Five Privateers Record Double-Digit Kills in Win Over McNeese State

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers (14-13, 3-7) had five players reach double figures in kills and had two players record double-doubles in a 3-1 win (25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16) over the McNeese State Cowgirls (10-16, 5-6) on Friday at the Human Performance Center.
 
New Orleans jumped ahead early in what turned out to be the deciding set, building an 18-13 lead. The Cowgirls responded with back-to-back points to cut the lead to three, but the attempted run was quickly squashed on a kill by Keke Irby. That fueled a 7-1 finish to the set to clinch the victory and move the Privateers above .500.
 
The Privateers and Cowgirls engaged in a tight opening set that featured eight ties, but McNeese State grabbed their only lead at 22-21. New Orleans quickly snatched the lead back, scoring three straight points. The set finished two rallies later when Blessing Dunn racked up her sixth kill of the set to put the Privateers ahead 1-0.
 
Both teams started on even terms in the second set, but the Privateers were able to break a 6-6 tie in emphatic fashion, going on a 12-5 run to push to a seven-point lead. McNeese State tried to rally from a 23-16 deficit, scoring five of the next six rallies to cut the lead to three. New Orleans would score on the next point though to take a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
McNeese State responded after a sluggish start in the third set. The Cowgirls dropped the first three points of the set and were down 9-5 before rallying back to tie it up in the next four rallies. Both teams played evenly until the score was tied at 19-19 when the Cowgirls went on a 6-2 spurt to close the set. McNeese State hit .351 in the third set on 17 kills in 37 attempts.
 
Dunn and Irby had 13 and 12 kills respectively while Dunn also co-led the team in digs with 19. Cara Sander (12), Rondolyn Bryant (10), and Kaitlyn Grice (10) also went for double figures in kills. Celeste Ramirez recorded 52 assists, two shy of a season-best while also racking up 13 digs. Shaylene Reimer had four of the Privateers' 11 aces and New Orleans out-hit McNeese State .282 to .240.
 
McNeese State was led by Malina Sanchez who posted 13 kills and hit .344 while adding 11 digs. Shanna Spree added 11 kills and Ebony Lewis chipped in with nine. Kelly Graham had 40 assists, 11 digs, and four block assists. Bridget Justis had a team-high 15 digs.
 
The Privateers are back in action on Saturday when they take on Nicholls. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
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