Box Score NEW ORLEANS - Western Kentucky became the second straight Sun Belt
opponent to pick up a win on the Human Performance Center floor,
defeating the University of New Orleans 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 23-25,
15-11) on Saturday evening.
Tiffany Elmore led WKU (18-7, 7-3 SBC) with 15 kills while Lindsay Williams tallied 14. Lauren Stuckel totaled 48 assists with Sarah Rogers contributing 18 digs from the back row.
UNO (14-8, 7-3 SBC) received a season-high 19 kills from
Lindsey Loyd with
Maria Szivos chipping 14 of her own.
Cassidy Asebroek distributed a career-high 51 assists with
Nicky Valenti notching 21 digs.
WKU opened the match on a 5-1 run and would retain the edge until the Privateers knotted the score at eight. Down 11-9, UNO went on an 8-0 run to grab a 17-11 edge as Asebroek had two aces during the stretch which proved to be the difference maker as the hosts took the opening frame.
After eight ties in the second frame, UNO took their first lead of the set at 10-9. The lead would only last for a point as the Hilltoppers stormed ahead 16-11 until a Szivos kill ended the WKU run.
The Hilltoppers would remain infront and despite a late Privateer rally, hold on for a 25-22 set victory to knot the set score at one entering the break.
For the first time in the match, it was UNO who would jump out to the early advantage and WKU's turn to chase. The Hilltoppers would trail for most of the set, tying the Privateers at 16 all before moving ahead 18-17 on a
Hajnalka Molnar set error.
Three consecutive WKU errors put UNO back on top 20-19. Strong serving by the Hilltoppers allowed them to claw back into the set with a Rogers' ace putting WKU within one of taking the third set, which they did two plays later.
In the fourth frame, two service aces by Szivos helped the Privateers bounce back from a 5-4 deficit to take a 9-5 lead. The Hilltoppers would cut the lead to two before UNO erupted once more, this time to stake claim to a six-point advantage at 18-12.
The Privateers would maintain their lead, growing it to a set-high seven points at 22-15 prior to a 5-0 run by WKU trimmed it to just two points. A Dobi kill ended the run and the two teams would trade points before UNO emerged a 25-23 winner on an
Anett Farkas kill.
A battle ensued in the fifth set with each Privateer lead being reeled in by WKU. UNO's last lead at 10-9 was responded with a 3-0 Hilltopper run that put the visitor's in the lead til the end, a 15-11 win.
The Privateers will be in action again on Monday as they face Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m. in a match that will be streamed exclusively on UNO Vision.
