Volleyball Opens Season Friday in FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic

FGCU HILTON GARDEN INN/HOMEWOOD SUITES CLASSIC
FRIDAY- 6 PM | SATURDAY- 8:30 AM AND 2:30 PM
ALICO ARENA | FORT MYERS, FLA.


COVERAGE
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO (SATURDAY MATCHES) | TWITTER | GAME NOTES
 
FIRST SERVE
 
The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team opens their 2015 campaign in a weekend tournament against three schools whom they will meet for the first time. Their season opens on Friday night with a match against tournament host, Florida Gulf Coast. On Saturday, the Privateers will face Presbyterian and Fordham.
 
Coach Millicent Van Norden enters her second season with New Orleans with nine newcomers and six returners. Among last year's leaders who are back are Cara Sander who led the team in kills and service aces. Sara Hammoutene had over 700 assists and was named team captain.
 
The batch of nine newcomers includes a lot of size with five players standing at 6'0" or taller. Defensively, Samantha Uline and Shaylene Reimer have been pointed to as players who are expected to provide depth on the back line. Keke Irby was named a co-captain heading into the season along with returner and senior Lauren Levy.
 
THE COMPETITION
 
FLORIDA GULF COAST
The host, Florida Gulf Coast Eagles head into the season off a 19-11 campaign in 2014. The Eagles qualified for the Atlantic Sun tournament as a 2-seed, but were bounced by Jacksonville in the semifinals. Heading into 2015, the Eagles were picked to finish second in the A-Sun.
 
The Eagles lost four seniors off of last year's squad. Notable returners include First Team All-Conference member, Eleonora Kazarian who registered 402 kills in 2014. Kazarian was the only unanimous pick for the A-Sun preseason team.
 
PRESBYTERIAN
The Blue Hose finished 2014 with a 12-16 record and a 7-7 mark in conference. They lost in the opening round of the Big South postseason tournament to Winthrop in three sets after taking the Eagles to five sets in the regular season finale.
 
Korinn Burgess is in her third season as head coach at Presbyterian. The Blue Hose played in five matches that went the full five sets last season. 11 of the first 12 matches for the Blue Hose will be played on the road.
 
FORDHAM
The Rams return five starters from the 2014 squad. Brianna O'Neill led the team in kills with 229 and also chipped in defensively with 168 digs. O'Neill is one of three seniors on the roster for Coach Gini Ullery who enters her third season at Fordham.
 
Also among returners for the Rams is Brennan Delsing who was the only Fordham player to start every match in 2014. Delsing racked up 177 kills and 176 digs. In her collegiate career, Delsing has started 84 matches coming into this season.

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.