Box Score NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (6-13, 0-6 Southland) went to extra rallies in two sets, but fell short in a 3-1 loss (27-29, 25-18, 25-16, 27-25) to the Nicholls Colonels (7-11, 3-2) on Tuesday at the Human Performance Center.
In the fourth set, New Orleans went on a mini spurt to take a 12-9 lead, and had an advantage as large as four. However, the Colonels won the next four points to tie the set. With Nicholls having match point on their hands, leading 24-23, the Privateers got a kill to send it to extra rallies. The Privateers got the same result to tie the set at 25-25, but two attack errors ended the match in favor of Nicholls.
"I stressed to the girls we win as a team, we lose as a team," said Coach
Millicent Van Norden. "We had a few lapses, but overall we did some things well. Our blocking at the net gave us some points, and gave us a chance tonight."
The Privateers had to defend against set point in a long, wild opening set. Trailing 24-23,
Cara Sander got a big kill to send the first set to extra rallies. New Orleans had set point twice afterward in extra rallies, the Privateers eventually ended the set at 29-27 on a
Rondolyn Bryant kill.
Nicholls responded in the second set, racing to a 10-5 early lead. New Orleans cut the deficit down to one, but could get no closer. Nicholls responded by extending the lead right back to five. The Colonels had four total blocks in the second set to help level the match at 1-1 heading into the break.
The Colonels won the third set to take a 2-1 lead to the change-over. New Orleans briefly took a 5-4 lead early on in the set, but Nicholls subsequently took the next five rallies. The set was stretched out after a point was changed in favor of the Privateers. A later stoppage with Nicholls leading 19-13 happened when there was confusion on the service rotation.
Bryant led the Privateers with 13 kills on an attack percentage of .400. Bryant also had a hand in five of New Orleans' 11 blocks (one solo, four assist).
Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe added 12 kills and
Taylor Berry had seven.
Celeste Ramirez was one of four players who had double figures in digs with 24. Ramirez and
Brooklyn Frank each had three service aces.
Nicholls' attack was paced by Kaci Eaton who had 19 kills. Kali Schwartz added 13 kills and Emily Weimer chipped in with nine. Weimer also had three aces and six total blocks. Kalynn Egea had 22 digs and Stephanie Tobison added 18.
The Privateers will face their last non-conference opponent of the season when they face Southern on Thursday, Oct. 9.
