The University of New Orleans volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to force a deciding fifth game against the Florida International Golden Panthers. The Privateers (5-11/1-6) fell in five games (21-30, 21-30, 30-21, 30-21, 8-15) to the second best team in the Sun Belt's east division. The team avoided being swept for a third consecutive match, but has still lost three straight.
The Privateers had four players in double figures including freshman Jennifer Cruz who had a team-high 19 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Senior middle blocker Ann MacMillan had a team-high 13 digs, the teams only solo block and five kills, while junior Melissa Caravella had 11 digs, 10 kills and a team best six blocks. Sophomore Kneckie Stallsworth had 13 kills and a .250 hitting percentage. New Orleans trailed 13-6 in the third game of the match and outscored the Panthers 10-2 to take a 16-15 lead. Cruz had six of her kills in the third game and combined to have 11 of her 19 in the third and fourth games. The Privateers were able to hold pre-season SBC selection Nirvana Kos to a negative hitting percentage (-.143) in the third game, even though she finished with a match-high 25 kills.
The Privateers were unable to get a lead on the Panthers in the fifth game and seven errors tipped the momentum to FIU.
