The Tulane beach volleyball team is ready to host the NOLA Classic at the White Sands Volleyball Courts this weekend. This event also marks senior day, celebrating the closing of the 2026 regular season. Over two days, Tulane will play three matches on Friday and two more on Saturday.
Currently, Tulane boasts a winning record of 19-11 and is on a six-match home winning streak. This weekend, they’ll face competitors including the #20 ranked Arizona, Louisiana Monroe (ULM), New Orleans (UNO), Florida International (FIU), and Southern Miss. Notably, Tulane has already beaten ULM, UNO, and Southern Miss earlier this season.
For the first time, Tulane will stream two matches live on ESPN+. Friday’s matches kick off with Arizona at 8:30 a.m., followed by ULM at 1:30 p.m. and an intra-city battle with UNO at 4:00 p.m. You can catch the matches here and here.
Saturday begins with senior day at 8:00 a.m., honoring six departing players: Amirah Ali, McKenzie Cutler, Emma Morris, Sam O’Connor, Molly Trodd, and Giorgia Walther. After the ceremony, Tulane will play FIU at 8:30 a.m. and finish with Southern Miss at 1:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy giveaways throughout the day.
Skylar Ensign and Trodd lead the team with an impressive 23-7 record at the top two flight levels. They’ve been strong, particularly as the number one pair, with an 11-3 record. Morris and Katie Hansen also show promise, winning 19 matches together.
Last weekend, Tulane competed in the Blazer Beach Bash and finished 3-1, with their only loss being a tight 3-2 match against UAB. They did sweep Houston Christian, Mercer, and ULM 5-0.
Looking ahead, Tulane will participate in the Conference USA Championship from April 23-25 in Youngsville, Louisiana. They have reached the final match in the last two seasons and are determined to win this year.
In recent years, beach volleyball’s popularity has surged, with a 25% increase in participation across the U.S., according to the American Sports Data. The growth in college programs has helped expand this fan-favorite sport, creating even more excitement around events like the NOLA Classic.
For live stats during the event, check out Volleyball Life.
