Nov. 8, 2002

NEW ORLEANS, La. - With the momentum of a four-match winning streak, the Tulane University volleyball team has a chance to accomplish something no previous Green Wave squad has done on Saturday at 7 p.m. when they take on Conference USA foe Southern Miss at Fogelman Arena - win their seventh C-USA match.

Standing 18-13 overall and 6-4 in C-USA play, Tulane has an opportunity against the Golden Eagles to not only extend their winning streak, but also improve their league standing as well as take another step toward their preseason goal of a 20-win season.

"We felt from the beginning that if we got through the pre-conference portion of our schedule relatively healthy that we would be in a situation to make a push at the end of the year," head coach Betsy Becker said. "We took our lumps against some of the nationally-ranked teams, but we're better for it. We got valuable experience, and it's showing in how we're playing.

"We've played well lately, but we've got to be ready tomorrow for Southern Miss. They play tremendous defense and dive for every ball. They're a team that can frustrate you and force you make mistakes. We had a five-match winning streak a few weeks back and then dropped three straight. We can't afford to do that now, and just have to remain focused and play one point at a time."

The match could also prove to be a historical one on the individual level as senior outside hitter Britney Hurst is closing in the Tulane single-season kills record. Hurst, who leads the team and Conference USA while ranking eighth in the NCAA in with 5.45 kills per game, needs just 19 kills to tie the mark of 613 set by former AVCA All-South Region honoree Alicia Roberts in 1994.

Sophomore middle blocker Deva Fowler is second on the team with 3.01 kills per game, followed by sophomore outside hitter Anastasia Kenon with a 2.41 average. Fowler and fellow middle blocker Kim Swafford have combined for 235 blocks with Fowler leading the way with a 1.14 block-per-game average.

Junior libero Karlyn Daly paces the Green Wave defense with 3.64 digs per game, followed closely by Hurst with a 3.46 average. Daly's 368 digs in 101 games during the 2002 season ranks sixth on the school's single-season list while Hurst's 377 in 109 games is fourth.

Freshman setter Kelli Dickson, who took over for the injured Katie Case seven matches into the season, has turned in an excellent rookie campaign so far, leading the team with 10.25 assists per game, including an 11.73 average as a starter.

Following the Southern Miss match, the Green Wave travels to the Lone Star State on Tuesday for a showdown with league foe Houston in a makeup match before closing out the regular season on Friday at 7 p.m. in Fogelman Arena against Memphis.