Tulsa Earns 3-1 Victory Over Tulane on Senior Day

Friday, November 17

Tulsa, Okla.

6:30 p.m.

Tulsa

15-14,8-9AAC

Tulane

6-23,2-15AAC

Tulane

Tulsa

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Tulsa Earns 3-1 Victory Over Tulane on Senior Day

11/17/2023 10:25:00 PM | Volleyball

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BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa volleyball team earned a 3-1 win (25-10, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18) on Senior Night Friday over the Tulane Green Wave in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane improved to 15-14 overall and 8-9 in American Athletic Conference action while the Green Wave dropped to 6-23 and 2-15 in league play.

Tulsa honored graduate outside hitter Kayley Cassaday, senior setter Avery Kalsu and right side hitter Regan Pendleton after the match.

"The city and The University of Tulsa have become my second home these last five years," said Cassaday. "It has truly been an honor to represent this school and this city. This is the school and the volleyball program that has shaped me into the person I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful."

Cassaday led all Hurricane attackers with 21 kills at a rate of 5.25 kills per set. She produced a service ace and boosted the defense with eight digs and a block assist.

"Competing for the University of Tulsa will be one of my greatest honors," said Kalsu. "I am truly so lucky to have gotten to compete here for the past four years. This school and this team mean the world to me."

Kalsu led the TU offense with 46 assists, averaging 11.5 assists per set on the way to setting up six attackers for success. She also added 17 digs to earn her 14^th double-double on the year, a team-high.

"This program has meant everything to me these last four years," said Pendleton. "Being here at the University of Tulsa has made me a better athlete but most importantly has made me a better person. The thing I will cherish most about this program is all the lifelong friendships I have made that truly feel like family. I was also so lucky to have gone through this entire journey with Avery and be a part of Kayley's last four seasons because it has truly been so special to me. This program and most importantly these people have made a lifelong impact on me, and I could not be more thankful."

Pendleton saw action on both sides of the ball, knocking away six kills and going for three digs and a block assist.

Second in scoring for Tulsa was sophomore outside hitter Beth Bayless who came away with 17.5 points off a career-high 17 kills and a block assist.

The defense was led by junior libero Marta Pecalli. The Trieste, Italy, native averaged 7.25 digs per set and ended the night with 29 total digs. Sophomore setter/defensive specialist Brayden Hipp followed with 13 digs and a floor-high four service aces.

Tulsa's final home match of the year begins at 1 p.m. in the series finale with Tulane Sunday in the Reynolds Center.

Game Notes
» It was Senior Night in the Reynolds Center … Tulsa celebrated outside hitter Kayley Cassaday, setter Avery Kalsu and Regan Pendleton.
» It was also Alumni Day for Tulsa … TU honored eight alumni during the match, including Jaime Wood (2013-16), Maggie Hembree Kuch (2017-21), Ebony Carter (2014-17), Lauren Isenberg (2019-21), Callie Cook (2017-21), Hannah Overmeyer, (2018-21), Tyler Henderson (2009-12) and Miriele Krietemeyer (2011-13).
» Avery Kalsu (46 assists/17 digs) picked up her 14^th double-double of the season.
» Brayden Hipp led the court with a career-high four service aces.
» Beth Bayless knocked away a career-high 17 kills.
» Tulsa had three record double-digit digs (Marta Pecalli (29), Avery Kalsu (17) and Brayden Hipp (13).
» As a team, Tulsa set a season-high of total digs in a four-set match (86) with Marta Pecalli leading the way with 29 digs.

How It Happened

SET 1 | Set one was all Tulsa as the Hurricane cruised to a 25-10 finish to claim the first match point. 15 of TU's points came from kills, six of which came from Beth Bayless and five from Kayley Cassaday. Tulsa was firing on all cylinders as Avery Kalsu had 12 assists in the set while Marta Pecalli dug out nine Green Wave attacks. As a team, Tulsa hit for .371 to close out the stanza.

SET 2 | There were 20 tie scores and ten lead changes in the second set, the most competitive stanza in the match. Neither team led by more than two points down the stretch. Tied at 23-23, a kill by Beth Bayless followed by a Tulane attack error pushed the Hurricane to a 25-23 set finish to improve to 2-0 in the match.

SET 3 | The Green Wave avoided the Friday night sweep with a 25-22 decision in the third set. Tulane grabbed the lead at 6-5 and never trailed again, leading by as many as six points multiple times in the set before closing out. Tulsa committed six attack errors, five of which resulted from Green Wave blocks.

SET 4 | Tulsa and Tulane fought through nine ties and four lead changes in the first 30 rallies. TU broke the deadlock at 15-15 and went on a 10-3 scoring run to claim the set 25-18 to complete the 3-1 victory over the Green Wave. Avery Kalsu led the offense with 14 assists and Kayley Cassaday had eight kills to close out the final set of the match.

Tulsa               25        25        22        25
Tulane             10        23        25        18