Privateers Earn Sweep Over Lamar, Push Winning Streak to Five

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (17-13, 6-7 Southland) hit .402 for the match and had 12 more digs as they recorded a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-15, 25-17) on Thursday night against the Lamar Cardinals (13-14, 3-10) at the Human Performance Center.
 
The Privateers and Cardinals split the first ten rallies before New Orleans fired off the first run, scoring on nine straight rallies. New Orleans maintained their momentum for the rest of the set, recording a .367 attack percentage to take a 1-0 lead. The Privateers also had five more digs than Lamar in the opening game.
 
The second set saw more of the same as the teams again split the first ten rallies. New Orleans steadily drew away though behind a strong service game and a strong defense which continued rallies. Shaylene Reimer had nine digs in the second set alone and 14 digs through the first two sets and hit .567 for the set with 18 kills and just one error in 30 attempts.
 
Lamar was able to hang around in the set longer, trailing just 12-11 when a rally that was ruled dead late led to an 8-2 run by the Privateers to put the set out of reach. New Orleans recorded the final point on what was their third block of the match. New Orleans had a 48-29 advantage in the kill department over the Cardinals.
 
With the win, the Privateers have now posted five straight victories including four consecutive in conference. Before the game, Coach Millicent Van Norden was honored for reaching the 200-win milestone on Oct. 31.
 
Blessing Dunn led a balanced attack with 10 kills. Cara Sander and Rondolyn Bryant each added nine kills while Keke Irby and Kaitlyn Grice had seven. Grice also wound up with two of the team's three blocks (both block assists). Celeste Ramirez also posted five kills in seven attempts and had 38 assists. Reimer finished with 20 digs and had two aces.
 
Cortney Moore led Lamar's attack with 10 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Moore also had four total blocks (one solo, three assist). Chelsea Grant hit .400 with eight kills and two errors on 15 attempts. Haley Morton had 23 assists and co-led the Cardinals in digs with eight. Erin Pequeno also had eight digs on the night.
 
The Privateers are in action next against Sam Houston State. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday.

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