HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston erased a 2-0 deficit but was outlasted by Tulane in the final set of a 3-2 defeat to the Green Wave on the final day of the Bearkat Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum. 

The Kats (1-2) placed four players in double-figure kills, but it was not enough to get past the Green Wave (2-1), led by Avery Burks' 24 kills on 70 swings. Tulane looked to be poised for a quick win before Sam Houston responded with 25-22 and 25-21 wins in Sets 3 and 4 to push things to a final set, a frame that did not see more than an early 3-point edge for Tulane.  

The Kats had a match-point try at 14-13 following a score from Lauren Malone, but Burks followed with the next two Green Wave points and Lauryn Mack closed it out when Tulane won a challenge on its second match-point try. 

Malone led Sam Houston with 13 kills and finished with 10 digs to score a double-double, while freshman Chloe Monson continued her impressive debut weekend with a dozen kills of her own. Michaela Panekova (11 kills, 11 digs) and Avery Fowler (38 assists, 19 digs) also registered double-doubles, while Chelsa Butler had 10 score and a pair of blocks.  

Shaelin White's 25 digs paced the back row, followed by freshman Avery Pruitt with 11. 
 
The Bearkats will next head to Nacogdoches for a weekend event at Stephen F. Austin. They will take on Abilene Christian and Louisiana on Friday before a matinee vs SFA on Saturday.