Privateers Start Conference Weekend With Northwestern State

NORTHWESTERN STATE AT NEW ORLEANS
THURSDAY-7 P.M.
HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA.

LIVE STATS | TWITTER | AUDIO | VIDEO | GAME NOTES
 
FIRST SERVE
The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (11-9, 2-3) looks to extend their winning streak when they face off against the Northwestern State Lady Demons (4-17, 2-6) on Thursday evening at the Human Performance Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
The Privateers have won three straight and defeated Southeastern 25-22, 25-22, 25-23 for their second conference win. It was also the fifth time the Privateers had swept an opponent this season. New Orleans had 11 total blocks in the match and Kaitlyn Grice was in on six blocks (three solo, three assist).
 
Cara Sander had another strong match offensively in her second game back from injury. Sander went for 10 kills on 28 attempts with just one error and recorded a .321 hitting percentage in the win on Saturday. Sander has 22 kills since returning to the court after missing nearly three weeks.
 
If the Privateers win on Thursday it would be their first winning of streak of four matches since 2010 when New Orleans closed that season by winning their final five matches. Six of the remaining eight matches in October are at home. The Privateers' only road tests remaining in October are against Abilene Christian (Oct. 22) and Incarnate Word (Oct. 24).
 
The Privateers are 8-8 all-time against Northwestern State. The Lady Demons have taken the last three meetings. Shaylene Reimer has 28 service aces on the season with eight of those coming during the last three games.
 
QUICK HITS
-Takierra Boughton has gone for more than 15 attempts in three of her last four matches. Included in that stretch was tying a season-high 26 attempts at Nicholls.
-Keke Irby has posted 11 total blocks in her last three appearances, which included a five-block performance at Nicholls.
-Of the 16 times the Privateers and Lady Demons have played each other, only three of those games have taken place in New Orleans.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Northwestern State is coming off a resounding win, defeating Stephen F. Austin 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-19) on Tuesday night. The Lady Demons picked up their second conference win and broke a five-game losing streak. Northwestern State had a 46-29 advantage in kills and Lauren Agan led the attack with 12 kills.
 
Thursday marks the beginning of a six-match road trip for Northwestern State. They will not return home until Nov. 12 when they match up against Incarnate Word. Northwestern State is 0-6 in true road games and 1-13 away from Prather Coliseum.
 
Sean Kiracofe is in his first season as a head coach. Kiracofe was an assistant at SMU in his prior stop. In 2014, the Mustangs achieved a school record 26 wins. Kiracofe replaced co-head coaches, Stephanie and Hugh Hernesman who accepted positions at Clemson after leading Northwestern State to a conference championship last year.
 
Glynna Johnson is fourth in the Southland in hitting percentage (.368) and leads all blockers with 75 total blocks. Natalie Jaeger has 38 aces this season, pacing a service game that stands third in the Southland in that category.
 
To keep up with the latest New Orleans volleyball news, follow the team on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_VB or by liking New Orleans Privateers on Facebook.