CONWAY, Ark. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (5-8) fought back from a first set loss to defeat Grambling (1-10) on Saturday, 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-17).
Leading the way for the Privateers were
Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe,
Taylor Berry and
Rondolyn Bryant as each notched over 10 kills in the match. Sellers-Wiebe led all with 13, followed by Berry and Bryant with 11 and 10, respectively. In the dig department, it was
Lauren Levy atop the team with 13, followed by
Celeste Ramirez with 12 and Sellers-Wiebe with 11.
New Orleans fell behind in the first set to Grambling State, and was unable to rally back within reach to make a comeback. After the set, the Privateers regained focus and raced out to a 19-11 lead in the second set before claiming it, 25-14. In the second set, New Orleans received a strong effort from Bryant with four of her 10 kills for the match coming in the second frame.
The Privateers second set win set the tone and New Orleans continued its tirade in third with Berry and Sellers-Wiebe combining for 10 kills to help lift the Privateers to a 25-18 victory.
With a 2-1 set lead, the Privateers kept in sync and built a 15-10 lead in the fourth set before coming away with the 25-17 victory. Grambling State did rally late in the fourth set, but it was too little too late as Brooklyn Frank provided the match-ending kill.
New Orleans returns home Tuesday for the Southland Conference home opener versus league and regional rival, Southeastern. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. in the HPC.
