FAN ADVISORY: Fans are strongly encouraged to enter the Lakefront Arena Auxiliary Gym via the 'North Shell Parking Lot' on the 'lake' side of Lakefront Arena. Saturday's pre-game Senior Day festivities will begin at approx. 1:52 p.m. with fans encouraged to make arrangements to be at the facility early.
Live Stats - Valdosta State (Fri) - West Georgia (Sat)
NEW ORLEANS – The 2011 University of New Orleans volleyball season will come to a close over the weekend as the Privateers host Valdosta State 6 p.m. on Friday and West Georgia on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Both matches will occur at the Lakefront Arena Auxiliary Gym with fans strongly encouraged to enter the venue through the North Shell Parking Lot on the 'lake' side of Lakefront Arena.
Prior to Saturday's contest, UNO (2-20, 0-12 Gulf South Conference) will honor a pair of seniors in
Evelyn Kovacs and
Samantha Hauck.
Hauck is in her second year on the Privateer roster after emerging from an on-campus tryout prior to the 2010 season. A middle blocker from East Jefferson High School in Metairie, Hauck will have appeared in 33 matches and enters the weekend with career totals of 35 kills, 17 blocks, 21 digs and five service aces.
Hauck's top career offensive performances came earlier this season when she posted back-to-back matches with five kills at the season-opening Millsaps Invitational. Her top defensive effort occurred two weeks ago when she posted four blocks against Christian Brothers.
Kovacs will join Hauck in being honored at the conclusion of a three-year career.
A member of the 2009 Sun Belt Conference West Division Champions, Kovacs will have suited up in 49 matches. Originally brought to UNO as a back row player and serving specialist by then-head coach Jozsef Forman, she made the transition to the middle blocker in 2010 upon the arrival of current head coach Kim Young-Buford.
Entering the weekend, Kovacs has tallied 137 career kills including 85 this season. The native of Columbus, Ohio has totaled 45 career aces, 119 digs and 56 blocks.
Kovacs career-highs include seven kills on three occasions, including twice this season and 11 digs in a Gulf South Conference contest against West Alabama.
Back on the court, all three squads involved are looking to accomplish different goals.
While UNO seeks to end a 16-match losing streak and end the season a high note, VSU (15-16, 4-8 GSC) will be out to improve their place in the GSC Tournament. The Blazers clinched one of the final two spots in the season-ending event and is battling Alabama-Huntsville for the fifth seed.
VSU defeated the Privateers 3-0 last month in Georgia and snapped a four-match skid with a mid-week victory against Albany State. The Blazers' offense features Ashley Lala, a local product from Mount Carmel Academy, who averages 9.75 assists a frame.
UWG (8-21, 2-10 GSC) is very similar to UNO, featuring seven freshmen on their roster.
The Wolves failed to qualify for the GSC tournament and are the only conference foe to drop a set to the Privateers on the seat. Emily Reul leads the way for UWG with 2.78 kills with Melissa Holt's 4.02 digs per set holding up the back row.
This weekend's matches will conclude Young-Buford's second season at the helm of the Privateer program. The head coach posted a 10-9 mark last year in her first season.
