Privateers Start Fast, Top Alabama A&M in Three Sets

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The New Orleans Privateers (5-4) hit .371 as a team and went for a .455 percentage in the third set of a 3-0 win (25-12, 25-23, 25-14) over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs (1-9) on Saturday morning at the Justice Center. The Privateers are now 2-1 on the weekend at the UNC Asheville Invitational.
 
The Privateers were leading 13-8 when they went back on serve after an attack error on the Bulldogs' side. New Orleans proceeded to score the next seven rallies in their favor, mostly on the strength of Kaitlyn Grice and Milica Zmiric who had two kills each in that run.
 
The second set was much closer with the Bulldogs obtaining a late lead at 21-20. However, the Privateers used a balanced attack to spurt ahead and ultimately take the set. The lead changed hands six times in the second set.
 
New Orleans finished out the sweep with little resistance. The Privateers wound up with a 39-26 advantage in the kill department and had nine service aces to none for Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs were also limited to a .158 attack percentage.
 
Zmiric and Grice each wound up with double kills to pace the Privateers attack. Zmiric also hit .529 (10 kills, 1 error, 17 attempts) and Grice posted a .400 attack percentage with 12 kills while chipping in on two blocks. Cara Sander added nine kills while Samantha Uline posted seven kills, 13 digs, and added three aces. Lauren Levy co-led the team in digs with 13 and Celeste Ramirez had 41 assists along with eight digs.
 
The Bulldogs were led by Ashundria McNeal who registered eight kills. Drea Matthews and Savannah Blackiston chipped in with six kills each. Lauren Butler led the team in digs with five. Alabama A&M had five blocks. McNeal and Ariana Jones individually had two blocks each.
 
New Orleans closes out the tournament on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 against Citadel.
 
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