Live Stats
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The New Orleans volleyball program will play its final regular season tournament of the year this weekend as they take part in the Alabama State/ISTAP Collegiate Cup.
UNO (0-8) will play a pair of matches each day, beginning with host ASU (1 p.m.) and Savannah State (5 p.m.) on Friday. On the tournament's second day, the Privateers take on Jacksonville State at 11 a.m. before concluding play at 5 p.m. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Live stats of all matches will be available on BamaStateSports.com.
UNO enters the weekend coming off a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Tulane on Wednesday.
Wednesday's contest was the second in a row in which the Privateers reverted to a single-setter rotation and for a second straight match, UNO's hitting percentage represented a new season-high. The Privateers hit .149 against the Green Wave.
Celeste Ramirez handled the setting duties in the contest, distributing 22 assists. Ramirez also contributed to the attack percentage, connecting on three kills in four attack attempts – matching her season-high established against Louisiana Tech.
Marti Richmiller totaled a team-high seven kills on Wednesday and currently leads the UNO roster with 1.46 kills a set.
Kelsea Hundtoft (1.38),
Cara Sander (1.31) and
Alyssa Podwell (1.17) join Richmiller in averaging at least a single kill per frame.
Defensively, the Privateers have had at least five blocks in back-to-back matches for the first time this season as they head into the weekend. The defense has also received a lift from
Lauren Levy, who continues to pace the program with 3.15 digs a set.
This weekend's foes all represent a different challenge with a mixed bag of results credited to each team.
ASU (2-6) owns a win over North Carolina Central in its most recent outing on Sunday. UNO maintains a 3-0 advantage all-time against the Lady Hornets, including a victory in 2005. Leading ASU this season is the trio of Amber Bennett (3.19 kills/set), Luiza Griz (2.85 digs/set) and Brooke Beasley (4.73 assists/set).
The Privateers' meeting on Friday against SSU (0-8) is the first between the schools. The Tigers have yet to win a set this season and feature a roster in which three players, including Gabrielle Nathaniel (1.52 kills/set) average at least 1.2 kills each frame.
JSU (3-6) has gone 1-2 in both previous tournaments it has played, defeating Presbyterian in the opening week of the season before adding a win over South Alabama last weekend. The Gamecocks head into its first meeting against UNO relying heavily on Emily Rutherford's team-best 3.33 kills a frame.
UAPB (2-10) had its two-match winning streak snapped in a 3-0 loss to Arkansas-Monticello earlier this week. The Golden Lions lost to UNO last Oct. 8 at the Human Performance Center in the first-ever meeting between the schools. UAPB is paced offensively by Ashlie Jones (2.03 kills/set) and defensively by Courtney Brand (3.29 digs/set).
Following the weekend, the Privateers will open Southland Conference play with matches at Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 19) and Northwestern State (Sept. 21). The team's next home match is Sept. 26 against SLC foe Oral Roberts.
ALABAMA STATE/ISTAP COLLEGIATE CUP SCHEDULE
(all matches in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome)
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
Jacksonville State vs. Savannah State, 11 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS vs. Alabama State, 1 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs Jacksonville State, 3 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS vs. Savannah State, 5 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alabama State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013
NEW ORLEANS vs. Jacksonville State, 11 a.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Savannah State, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville State vs. Alabama State, 3 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 5 p.m.
Savannah State vs. Alabama State, 7 p.m.
NOTE: Due to two-hour gap between start times, matches are likely to fall behind schedule. Matches will not start any earlier than posted start time.
