Volleyball Picks up Conference Victory Over Tulane

Sunday, October 25

McGonigle Hall

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

16-6, 7-3American

Tulane

7-15, 1-9American

Tulane

Temple University

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Volleyball Picks up Conference Victory Over Tulane

10.25.15 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

by Ed LeFurge, Athletic Communications Intern

PHILADELPHIA – Temple volleyball bounced back Sunday afternoon, picking up a 3-1 victory over Tulane by scores of 26-24, 25-16, 23-25 and 25-21. The Owls advance to 16-6 overall and 7-3 in the conference, while Tulane drops to 7-15 with a 1-9 record in The American.

Temple's outside hitters were the driving force offensively against the Green Wave. Junior Caroline Grattan led the team with 22 kills, hitting .356 and serving up an ace. Fellow junior Tyler Davis notched 13 kills, hitting .257. Senior Sandra Sydlik led the Owls in assists, as she had 51 of the team's 56.

Defensively for the Owls, the team combined for 16 blocks. Sophomore Janine Simmons led the team with five blocks, while classmate Izzy Rapacz had three of her own. Sydlik and junior Kirsten Overton also had three blocks each for the Owls. Senior Alyssa Drachslin rounded out the box score with 16 of the teams 47 digs.

Throughout all four sets, Temple had a hitting percentage of .290, while holding Tulane to .245.

In the first set, the teams were tied 2-2 early on. The Owls then took the next four points stemming from a few hitting errors by the Green Wave after a pair of digs by senior Kayla Yingling. Temple maintained the lead through most of the set until Tulane tied it at 22. The Green Wave were able to take a lead twice after points went back and forth. Ultimately, the Owls were able to claim the set after a tie at 24, taking two straight points to win 26-24 with the final point coming from a kill by Rapacz.

The Owls dominated set two. After being tied at eight, Temple went on a 17-8 run. The defense for the Owls led them in this set as they picked up six blocks while holding the Green Wave to a hitting percentage of .133. Temple closed out the set with two straight points to win 25-16.

The Owls tried for the sweep, but the Green Wave were able to take a nail-biter in set number three. Temple started off hot with a 5-1 run but Tulane bounced back quickly, going on a 12-4 run of their own. The teams went point for point almost the entire set until being tied at 22. From there, Tulane capitalized on two errors by the Owls, ultimately winning 25-23.

Temple was able to bounce back in set number four. The Owls started 3-1 and then tied their largest lead of the set at 14-8. The Green Wave fought back to make it 18-16, but the Owls pushed forward to 22-16. The match wasn't over just yet as Tulane went on a 4-1 run, but the Owls finished it off at 25-21.

Head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam was happy to see his team come back after a tough loss to Houston on Friday. "The movement on the court was really good," he said. "I thought we did a good job serving aggressively."

The Owls are back in action with a two-game road trip next week, traveling to Cincinnati on Friday and to Memphis on Sunday.

Box Score (PDF)