NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans home losing streak reached
three matches for the first time since 2007 as Middle Tennessee claimed
a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) victory at the Human Performance Center on
Monday night.
With the 3-0 victory, MT (17-7, 10-1 Sun Belt) became the first team to walk out of the HPC with a 3-0 victory since Arkansas State pulled the feat on Oct. 16, 2008.
Izabela Kozon notched a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs to pace the Blue Raiders. Ashley Mead followed with 15 kills, Ashley Waugh totaled 14 digs and Leslie Clark took match-high honors with 34 assists.
Lindsey Loyd led a UNO (14-9, 7-4 SBC) team that was outhit for the first time in conference play with eight kills.
Cassidy Asebroek distributed 19 assists and
Nicky Valenti was held to just 10 digs.
MT started the match's opening frame in control with a 10-2 run. The lead was far enough out of reach to overcome as the Privateers rallied back within two at 13-11, prompting Blue Raider head coach Matt Peck to call a timeout.
UNO would close the gap to two points several times before moving ahead for the first time at 17-16 on an ace by
Edina Dobi. A 3-0 MT run would swing the advantage back to the visitors before the teams swapped leads late in the set.
The last lead in the frame belonged to the Blue Raiders as Clark's consecutive aces moved MT within set point before claiming a 25-22 victory.
A 3-1 Privateer advantage to start the second set would help UNO maintain the lead until a Brynne Henderson ace put the Blue Raiders ahead 11-10. The lead would go right back to the Privateers at 12-11 on a Valenti ace.
The Blue Raiders would have to chase UNO until gaining an edge at 21-20 on a kill by Stacy Oladinni. Two consecutive MT blocks pushed the visitors to set point and eventually a 25-20 frame win.
In the third frame, it would take 10 ties and three lead changes before the Blue Raiders emerged from a deadlock at 14 to take a 16-14 lead. The advantage would hold up through the end of the frame as MT closed out a sweep with a 25-20 win.
The Privateers will face their third straight 2008 NCAA foe on Friday when reigning SBC regular season champion Florida International visits the HPC at 7 p.m.
