NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane University volleyball team put on a dominant display at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Sunday, securing a definitive 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-16, 25-15) over the cross-town rival University of New Orleans Privateers.
The decisive victory marks Tulane’s 12th consecutive win over the Privateers, extending their historic all-time series advantage to 25-7. With the win, the Green Wave improves to an impressive 8–2 record as they head into conference play, while UNO drops to 2–11 on the season.
Green Wave Attack Overpowers Privateers
From the opening serve, Tulane’s offensive rhythm proved too much for the Privateers to handle. The Green Wave attack was spearheaded by junior outside hitter Riley Tucker, who delivered a match-high 11 kills while anchoring the net defense with three total blocks.
Complementing Tucker’s performance was sophomore middle blocker Maddy McLin, who stepped up to log a career-high 10 kills and a block, keeping the UNO defense perpetually off-balance. The offensive engine ran smoothly all afternoon under the direction of sophomore setter Charlee Solomon, who distributed 37 assists, added four kills of her own, and kept the Privateers on their heels with four service aces. Senior outside hitter Millie Burgess also turned in a strong performance, providing a steady presence with a season-high eight kills, five digs, and an ace.
Defensive Lockout Triggers the Sweep
While the offense clicked, it was Tulane’s relentless back-row defense that slammed the door on any hopes of a UNO comeback. Freshman libero Makena Lim delivered a masterclass in the backcourt, recording a career-best 25 digs. Lim’s elite court coverage and clean passing consistently neutralised the Privateer attack, allowing Tulane to orchestrate quick transition points.
Tulane seized early control in the first set, executing a balanced attack to take it 25-17. The second and third frames followed a similar script, with the Green Wave asserting their dominance at the net and at the service line. UNO struggled to find answers for Tulane’s length and defensive discipline, falling 25-16 in the second set before Tulane closed out the match with a dominant 25-15 run in the third.
What’s Next
The Green Wave will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming American Athletic Conference (AAC) slate, using this final non-conference tune-up as a springboard for league play. Meanwhile, the Privateerswill head back to the drawing board to search for answers before kicking off Southland Conference action.
Photos by Gregory Guignon