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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The UTEP volleyball team fell in the second match of the day to Tulane 3-0 on Friday night. The Miners (1-1) split their two matches to open the 2018 season, defeating Incarnate Word 3-1 earlier in the day.
UTEP will conclude the Tulane I-10 Volleyball Challenge when it faces Louisiana Saturday morning (9 a.m. MT).
Sophomore Cheyenne Jones and junior Macey Austin combined for 15 kills during the match. Austin produced a career-high 11 digs, while freshman Kristen Fritsche recorded 10 digs. Fritsche tallied 24 assists to lead the Miners for the second straight match.
In the first set, the Miners jumped out to a 10-3 lead putting a lot of pressure on the Green Wave. Tulane would regain a 20-19 lead and did not look back besting the set 25-21.
The heavily contested second set saw nine ties and four lead changes. Junior Briana Arellano recorded a kill that brought the Miners within one point (24-23), but the Green Wave finished things off 25-23.
The final set of the match followed the theme of the previous two sets with 11 ties and five lead changes. UTEP battled for position, but ultimately fell 25-21.