Privateers Travel to Hattiesburg for First Mid-Week Match of Season

FIRST SERVE
 
The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (6-4) will take back to the road for their first mid-week match of the season against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (11-1) out of Conference-USA. The match is set for a 6 p.m. start at Reed Green Coliseum.
 
The Privateers finished a 3-1 weekend at the UNC Asheville Invitational with a four-set victory over The Citadel. New Orleans won three straight matches against South Carolina State, Alabama A&M, and Citadel after dropping the opening match of the tournament to UNC Asheville.
 
Kaitlyn Grice was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts which included 33 kills and an attack percentage near .500. Grice has been named to two all-tournament teams, becoming the first Privateer to accomplish that feat in a single season since 2010 (Edina Dobi). Grice is currently ranked fifth in the Southland in hitting percentage (.354) and leads the team in total blocks (27).
 
The match against The Citadel saw career-highs achieved as well. Sophomore, Rondolyn Bryant was in on eight total blocks (two solo, six assist) setting a new career mark in that department. Senior setter, Celeste Ramirez also set a new career-best with 54 assists in the last match of the weekend. Ramirez also had 21 digs, five kills, and five block assists in the same match.
 
QUICK HITS
-This will be the 34^th meeting between the two teams. New Orleans holds a 24-9 advantage, but Southern Miss has won the last two tilts including a 3-0 win in 2014.
-Blessing Dunn is currently in the top five in service aces per set with 0.46 (12 total in 26 sets).
-As a team, the Privateers are tops in the Southland with 2.05 aces per set (76 total).
 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
 
The Golden Eagles have the best overall record in C-USA and are 2.5 games better than Western Kentucky, Marshall, and Rice who all stand tied for second in the overall record at 8-2. Southern Miss is coached by Amanda Berkley who is in her third season at the helm.
 
Southern Miss returns 11 letter winners from the 2014 squad that won 20 matches. Included in the returners is nearly 80 percent of the kill output from last year. Mary Pursell was an all-conference libero last season and is averaging 4.31 digs per set this year.
 
This past weekend saw Southern Miss' only loss to date when they fell 3-0 to Ole Miss at the Rebel Classic. Southern Miss has already defeated three Southland teams this season (Nicholls, Northwestern State, and Southeastern).