NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team is off to its best start to a season since 2009, and will put its three-match winning streak on the line Tuesday night at the HPC versus regional foe Southern Miss. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and admission is free.
The Privateers (4-2) have already surpassed last season's win total and claimed its own UNO Invitational over the weekend with wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State. New Orleans also defeated Mississippi Valley State in midweek action, a win that started the three-match winning streak.
Southern Miss (6-2) comes to the HPC as winners of three of its last four matches, with its most recent victim being the Privateers' in-state and conference rival Nicholls State. The Golden Eagles soared to a 3-0 victory in the match and did not allow the Colonels to point over 19 in any of the three sets.
On the season, New Orleans is led by redshirt freshman
Cara Sander with a 3.80 kills per set average that ranks second in the Southland. Sander has 76 total kills for a .231 attack percentage. Following her is fellow freshman
Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe with a 2.10 kills per set mark.
Leading the Privateers in the assist department is junior newcomer
Sara Hammoutene with 162 on the year for a 9.0 assists per set mark. For the last week, Hammoutene averaged 12.0 assists per set, helping the Privateers earn three consecutive victories. Fellow junior
Celeste Ramirez is atop the Privateers with 73 for a 3.32 digs per set average, while junior
Taylor Berry leads the squad in blocks with 13.
Southern Miss is led by outside hitters Quinci Hayward and Stephay Purdue, each averaging over 3.0 kills per set on the season. Purdue also leads the Golden Eagles with eight service aces. As a team, Southern Miss is holding its opponents to a .125 hitting percentage.
First serve is set for 7 p.m. and admission is free to the public.
