AUBURN, Ala. - The University of New Orleans volleyball opened their season
with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 26-24) victory over Mercer to open up the 2008 season
on Friday afternoon in the Auburn War Eagle Invitational.
UNO (1-0) was led by senior Dorilla Kovacevic, who notched her 26th career
double-double with a 15 kills, 12 dig performance. Junior Lindsey Loyd added 14
kills for the Privateers who hit .258 for the match.
Senior Jaci Bayley led all setters with 26 assists while sophomore libero Nicky
Valenti paced the defense with 18 digs while Loyd completed a double-double of
her own with 13 digs.
Karen Dorris had seven kills for Mercer (0-1), who falls to 1-3 in the all-time
series between the schools.
Kelly Jansen, the Bears' all-time leader in assists added 14 more to her career
total while New Orleans native Claire Tucker had 16 digs
In the opening set, Mercer scored the first point of the match before UNO
scored six of the next seven points to take a lead at 6-2. The Privateer lead
would grow to as many as eight points as Lauren Loeffelholz, Loyd and Kovacevic
had four kills apiece to give UNO the 25-18 opening set win.
The Bears again put the first points on the board in the second set, taking an
early 2-0 lead. UNO would hop into the driver's seat a few points later before
allowing Mercer within one point at 12-11.
Kovacevic would not let the Bears pull close, having three of her set-high five
kills, as UNO would score 10 of 11 points to take a commanding 22-12 lead on
way to a 25-15 second set victory. Loyd added four kills in the set as the
Privateers hit .308 in the set in comparison to .086 for the Bears.
The two teams would battle back and forth in the third set with neither team
gaining an advantage greater than three points. UNO would gain match point at
24-23 before an errant attack made it 24-24.
With the teams playing extra points, Kovacevic stepped up the attack, providing
the two final points in the match on consecutive kills as UNO closed out the
Bears with a 26-24 third set victory. Kovacevic and Loyd each had six kills in
the final set.
Head coach Jozsef Forman and his UNO team will continue their stay at Auburn with matches on Saturday against Samford at 11:30
a.m and Auburn
at 4 p.m.
