Volleyball Falls to Tulane in Five-Set Heartbreaker

Friday, September 23

McGonigle Hall

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

7-4, 0-1American

Tulane University

9-4, 1-0American

Tulane

Temple

Volleyball Falls to Tulane in Five-Set Heartbreaker

9.23.16 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team rallied from 0-1 and 1-2 deficits, but ultimately fell in a five-set marathon to visiting Tulane in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Green Wave took the match 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 22-20 to move to 9-4 overall (1-0 American), while the Owls fall to 7-4 (0-1 American).

Temple struggled to find a rhythm much of the match, hitting below.120 in all three of their set losses. Tulane, who entered the match as the conference's best offensive team, hit .249 overall, while out-digging and out-blocking the Owls.

Junior Irem Asci racked up 21 kills and nine digs, while classmate Izzy Rapacz had 17 kills and 13 digs for a double-double. Junior Kyra Coundourides also finished with a double-double, tallying 57 assists with a career-best 18 digs, also adding four aces. Senior Tyler Davis had 10 kills, while sophomore Iva Deak notched nine with three blocks. Senior Kirsten Overton rounded out the offense with seven kills and four blocks. Defensively, sophomore Mia Heirakuji tied for team-high honors with 18 digs.

Head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam pointed to Temple's inconsistencies and early hitting struggles as a key factor in the loss. "I felt like we made a lot of unforced errors early in the match and that made it tough to get into a rhythm. But we fought through the ups and downs, and that is a positive. We play 20 matches in the conference and they are all going to be a battle."

Tulane grabbed the first set, hitting .237 to Temple's .114. The Green Wave opened with a 7-2 advantage and did not relinquish the lead, finishing out the 25-18 win. Temple responded with a 25-22 win in the second set, tying the match at 1-1. In the frame, the Owls trailed 21-18 before a 7-1 run closed out the set, tying the match at 1-1.

Tulane grabbed the momentum once more, winning the third set, 25-19 to go up 2-1. The Green Wave hit .297 to Temple's .103 in the frame, leading from buzzer to buzzer. Again, Temple tied things up with a .263 hitting performance in the fourth set, their best of the night. The Owls jumped out to a 12-5 lead and held a large advantage until a 6-1 Tulane run cut the score to 24-22. Temple was able to finish out the set on an Asci kill, sending the match to a fifth and final frame.

The final set was as close as it comes, with Temple and Tulane tying on 16 different occasions. Seven match points were spoiled between the teams, but in the end, Tulane was able to get the final three points of the frame, rallying from a 20-19 deficit to win, 22-20, sealing the match victory.

Temple is back in action on Sunday with another conference opponent, as the Owls host Houston at 1:00 p.m. at McGonigle Hall.

Box Score (PDF)