UNC Asheville Staves Off Privateers' Rally

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The New Orleans Privateers (3-4) commenced an incredible rally in the fourth set, but fell short in a 3-1 loss (25-17, 25-17, 17-25, 26-28) to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (3-3) on Thursday evening at the Justice Center.
 
After falling behind 2-0, the Privateers picked off the third set to force a fourth. New Orleans fell into a 23-16 deficit, but behind Cara Sander the Privateers rallied back for four consecutive points. UNC Asheville then registered a kill to go up 24-20, but New Orleans had one more push in them scoring four straight to send the set to extra rallies.
 
Both teams staved off set point once in extras, but the Bulldogs ended the match on a kill that was sent down through a block attempt ending the first of four matches on the weekend for New Orleans.
 
The first set saw the Bulldogs race out of the blocks to a 5-0 lead. New Orleans quickly erased that early edge, but could never get in front. New Orleans had four ball-handling errors whistled against them in the opening set. The Privateers did rally back from another five-point deficit to tie the score at 14-14, but the Bulldogs opened back up with six straight points on their way to taking the first set.
 
New Orleans got to a narrow 4-3 lead to start the second set, but that was the only advantage they would enjoy. The Bulldogs used a strong presence at the net to quickly recapture the lead and slowly build on that advantage. The set ended when a UNC Asheville serve could not be returned over after three hits.
 
After the break, both teams split the first 12 rallies evenly. However, behind a strong service game led by Samantha Uline, the Privateers stuck UNC Asheville in a rotation to build up a 12-6 lead. New Orleans kept the momentum going to take the third set behind a solid service game and a big offensive effort from Sander who polished off the set with kills on the last two rallies.
 
Sander had 13 kills and eight digs on the match with seven of those kills coming in the third set. Takierra Boughton notched a season-high in kills with 15 and had a .385 attack percentage. Kaitlyn Grice also landed in double figures with 10 kills in 16 swings. Lauren Levy and Shaylene Reimer both landed in double digits in digs with 15 and 12 respectively. New Orleans had nine service aces, 12 service errors, and seven ball handling errors.
 
A balanced attack for UNC Asheville was led by Madison Vaughn's nine kills. Cara Guthrie added eight kills and three Bulldogs (Catherine Fischer, Cameron Pryor, and Shelby Erickson) each posted seven kills. The Bulldogs had a 10-2 advantage in blocks. Bryn Pfeiffer secured a match high in digs with 20.
 
New Orleans will be back on the court on Friday at 3:30 p.m. against South Carolina State.

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