NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans lost their third straight
match, falling to LSU 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-20) in the Allstate Sugar
Bowl Classic on Saturday night at Fogelman Arena.
Brittnee Cooper led the way for LSU (6-3) with 14 kills with Marina Skender tallying 11 of her own. Sam Dabbs was the lone member of the Tiger squad with a double-double after having a 33 assist, 10 dig performance.
Maria Szivos posted 13 kills in the match for UNO (4-5), as the team hit a sluggish .128 against LSU.
Cassidy Asebroek distributed 15 assists after relieving starting setter
Hajnalka Molnar, who had 14.
Nicky Valenti finished the match with 15 digs, giving her 54 for the weekend and a 4.5 dig per set average for the tournament.
In the opening set, the teams saw seven ties and four lead changes until UNO's last lead at 13-11 quickly dissolved as LSU reeled off eight straight points to take a 19-13 advantage. The Tigers would close out the set with a 25-15 victory.
Blocks broke a tie at three for the Privateers in the second set, including two stops from the combination of
Kaley Hubbard and Szivos. LSU would however regain the advantage for most of the frame.
With the Tigers up 23-20, UNO scored three straight point with a Szivos kill tying the score at 23-23. Two kills by Cooper closed out the set and gave LSU a 2-0 advantage heading into the third set.
The Privateers fell behind early in the final frame with LSU breaking open a 7-6 set with a 5-1 run to take a commanding 12-7 lead, which they would not relinquish until the match was over.
There were a pair of firsts for UNO in the frame as freshman
Kaitlin Hatcher had her first career kill and sophomore
Evelyn Kovacs made her first collegiate appearance.
After several days at home, the Privateers will leave for Memphis, Tenn. on Thursday to compete in the Memphis Tiger Invitational. The first match for UNO will be Friday at 2 p.m. against Samford.
