POSTMATCH INTERVIEW
Coach Van Norden
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers (6-12, 0-5 Southland) surrendered 10 service aces to a powerful service game by the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (9-7, 4-0) in a 3-0 loss (25-14, 25-14, 25-16) on Thursday at the Human Performance Center.
The Privateers started the first set by splitting the first eight rallies with Central Arkansas. However, New Orleans could not break the rotation with Heather Schnars on serve as the Sugar Bears scored the next six points to take control. New Orleans trimmed the deficit back down to three on two different occasions, but Central Arkansas took the opening set behind a .370 hitting percentage and four service aces.
"I thought we weren't well prepared tonight in serve receive," said Head Coach
Millicent Van Norden. "It wasn't really different looks in the service game from the last time we played them. Everyone knew their responsibility, but we just didn't execute."
The second set started exactly the same as the first with the score tied 4-4 after the first eight rallies. Central Arkansas took the next three points, but New Orleans had a quicker response to keep the score close.
At 10-8, the Sugar Bears were forced to take both timeouts in the set after setter, Kristine Hjembo appeared to be favoring her knee. Hjembo remained in though and Central Arkansas closed strongly with a 10-3 run to wrap the second set in favor of the Sugar Bears.
New Orleans kept the third set close in the early going, splitting the first 16 rallies of the set. However, Central Arkansas steadily pulled away to wrap up the set and the match. Schnars had three consecutive aces at one point, and the Sugar Bears ended with 10 aces on the match.
The Privateers were led offensively by
Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe who had eight kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Sellers-Wiebe also had five digs and was in on a block.
Cara Sander and
Rondolyn Bryant had five kills each.
Lauren Levy led the way in digs with 11 and
Celeste Ramirez added seven digs. The Privateers had all three blocks in the third set.
Schnars had a full night while leading the Sugar Bears in kills with 15. Schnars also had four aces and eight digs. Megan Nash was in on four of the team's seven blocks and Shelbee Berringer led the way in digs with 13. The Sugar Bears have now won six of their last seven matches after a 1-5 start to the season.
New Orleans will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 7 against Nicholls. First serve is for 6:30 p.m.
