NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans opened Sun Belt Conference
play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2000 with a 3-1 (26-24,
25-22, 19-25, 25-19) victory over UALR on Saturday afternoon at the Human Performance
Center.
UNO (9-5, 2-0 SBC) was led in victory by
Lindsey Loyd, who tallied 17 kills.
Maria Szivos and
Edina Dobi followed with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.
Hajnalka Molnar and
Cassidy Asebroek both passed the 20 assist plateau with 27 and 21, respectively with
Nicky Valenti reaching 24 digs for the second consecutive match. The Privateers added 10 blocks on the defensive end with Szivos having a hand in seven.
Anita Bucur had 14 kills for UALR (7-6, 1-1 SBC) with Katharina Nobel adding 13. Giuliana DeFrancesco took match-high honors with 43 assists while New Orleans native Emily Pepperman paced the Trojans with 15 digs.
UALR scored the first two points and 4 of 5 to take an early lead in the match's opening frame.
The Trojans remained in the advantage with the Privateers taking their first lead of the game at 11-10 on a Szivos kill. After six ties, UNO finally gained their first multi-point edge at 19-17 with a 3-0 run highlighted by kills from
Kaley Hubbard and Szivos.
The two teams then traded 4-0 runs with UALR taking their turn first, followed by a similar run by UNO. The teams would go into extra points to decide a victory with a Loyd kill followed by a Trojan error to give the Privateers the opening set 26-24.
In the second set, a tie at four would be the last in the frame as UNO took control. The Privateers turned a slim 9-8 edge into a 12-8 advantage, extending the lead to five at 16-11 and again at 18-13.
The Trojans would make a late run, getting within one four times, the last at 23-22 before a Jelic kill and a UALR error sent UNO into the break up 2-0.
A fast start put the Trojans in the driver's seat a with 6-2 lead in the third set. The advantage grew to five before UNO climbed within one at 14-13. The Privateers continued their chase, but could not close the gap as UALR won their first set of the match 25-19.
Not looking to stay around for a fifth set, UNO won 5 of 7 points to begin the fourth frame. The Trojans tied the stanza at six before the Privateers reeled off 7 of 8 points to take control of the set at 13-7.
UNO would not let UALR within five points for most of the frame until the Trojans pulled within two at 20-18. A 5-1 run would close out the match in favor of the Privateers help to close out the match with a 25-19 victory.
The homestand will continue for UNO at the HPC on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Denver, before challenging North Texas next Sunday at 12 p.m.
