Box Score LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Maria Szivos made the most of her return from a
two-match stint on the bench with an injury as the University of New
Orleans defeated UALR 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21) on Friday night
at the Jack Stephens Center.
Sidelined as UNO (13-6, 6-1 Sun Belt) split a pair of
conference matches last weekend, Szivos tied her career-high with 22
kills. Lindsey Loyd and Kaley Hubbard added 14 and nine kills,
respectively as the Privateers set a school-record with their fourth
straight victory against UALR (10-9, 4-4 SBC).
Setting up the offense was Hajnalka Molnar, who had a career-high with
50 assists. The 50 assists were the most a UNO setter since Jaci Bayley
tallied 60 against the same Trojans squad on Sept. 27, 2008.
Defensively, Nicky Valenti led four Privateers in double-figures with
16 digs, allowing the junior libero to break a tie with Kristin O'Hearn
to move into second place in school history in career digs. Vesna Jelic
had 13 digs with Loyd and Molnar rounding out double-double
performances with 11 apiece.
The Trojans were led by Kristi Block's 16 kills while Anita Bucur
followed suit with 11 of her own. Giuliana DeFransesco had 45 assists
for UALR and Emily Pepperman paced the squad with 16 digs.
In the opening set, the advantage was in the Trojans' court early.
Trailing 11-8, Szivos took over serve and coupled with a run while
Anett Farkas was on serve, the Privateers stormed ahead 16-13.
The lead would not change hands through the conclusion of the set as a
Valenti service ace, followed by a Szivos kill rounded out a 17-5 run
to close the opening frame in favor of UNO.
A second set like the first put the Privateers into the break with a
2-0 advantage. Tied at nine, UNO took advantage of serve on turns by
Szivos and Farkas to build a 15-11 edge and outscored UALR 16-8 down
the stretch.
Fortunes turned against UNO coming out of the break. The Trojans'
offense which had yet to crack a .100 hitting clip hit .289 for the set
with just a single lead change on way to a 25-19 victory.
Despite nine ties in the fourth set, the only lead change would see the
Privateers take a 10-9 lead on a Szivos kill. UNO struggled to pull
away before a 4-0 run with the score knotted at 17 put the match in the hands of the visiting squad.
The Privateers will head to Jonesboro, Ark. on Saturday for a 3 p.m.
match against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves defeated
Louisiana-Lafayette 3-1 on Friday night to improve to 6-0 at home and
will be looking to avoid being swept by UNO for the first time in
school history.
