Privateers Volleyball Set to Host New Orleans Invitational

NEW ORLEANS INVITATIONAL
FRIDAY-6 PM | SATURDAY-10 AM & 5 PM
HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTER | NEW ORLEANS, LA.
 
COVERAGE
VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | GAME NOTES
 
 
FIRST SERVE
The New Orleans Privateers (2-1) will begin the first of two tournaments they will host this season on Friday, Sept. 4 when they face Providence. On Saturday, the Privateers will meet Eastern Washington and La Salle.


At the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic during the opening weekend, the Privateers finished up with a 2-1 mark and a runner-up finish. Shaylene Reimer and Rondolyn Bryant were both named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts as the Privateers defeated Presbyterian in five sets and Fordham in four sets after dropping the opening match to Florida Gulf Coast.
 
Bryant tied a career-best against Presbyterian when she went for 13 kills. On the weekend, Bryant had a total of 33 kills and a .343 hitting percentage. Reimer played in her first collegiate tournament and racked up 56 digs with nearly half of them (27) coming against Presbyterian.
 
Several Privateers had notable performances throughout the weekend. Blessing Dunn posted a double-double in her debut against Presbyterian (15 kills, 13 digs). Kaitlyn Grice had 15 total blocks (3 solo, 12 assist). As a team, the Privateers recorded 25 aces. Reimer led the way individually with seven aces while Dunn added five and Samantha Uline and Sara Hammoutene had four aces each.
 
THE COMPETITION
 
PROVIDENCE (1-3)
The Friars enter at 1-3 after dropping two of three matches in the opening weekend at the Boston College Invitational. The lone win came against South Alabama. In a mid-week match, Providence fell in three sets to Bryant.
 
Coach Margot Royer-Johnson is in the midst of her 16^th season at Providence. The volleyball team is in their second season of competition in the Big East. Last year, the Friars had a 2-16 conference mark in their Big East debut season. Kayla Fitzgerald was the team's leader in kills last season and has 52 kills through four matches this year. Allison Impellizeri and Marina Rose each have 41 kills entering the weekend.
 
EASTERN WASHINGTON (0-3)
The Eagles had a tough opening weekend, going 0-3 against Seattle, California, and Nevada at the Molten Classic in Berkeley, Calif. The Eagles were defeated 3-0 in all three matches.
 
Coach Wade Benson is in his 10^th overall season with Eastern Washington. Benson previously served as an assistant from 1996-99 and as the Eagles' head coach from 2000-06. In his first tenure with the Eagles, Benson guided the team to six 20-plus win seasons, three Big Sky championships, and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2001.
 
LA SALLE (3-1)
The Explorers finished 2-1 in the Tribe Invitational, defeating Norfolk State and Gardner-Webb. La Salle went on to pick up a win on Tuesday in three sets against Lafayette. Jensen Sharrits was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week after recording 59 digs during the opening weekend.
 
Coach Christine Rimgaila is in her second season with the Explorers. After just one win in 2013, Rimgaila boosted the team's win total to 10 in 2014, her first season with the team. The Explorers returned 82 percent of their team kills from a season ago.
 
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