Privateers Rally from Down 0-2 to Defeat La Salle

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team (3-3) completed a dramatic comeback from down 2-0 to take the match 3-2 (16-25, 16-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-10) over the La Salle Explorers (3-4) in the closing match of the New Orleans Invitational.
 
In the final set, New Orleans overcame an early 6-2 deficit by scoring the next five points. Three kills were recorded by Blessing Dunn in that span. In the rest of the set, four different players recorded kills. The last point of the match was recorded when La Salle could not return a service after a bad set.
 
The result was the first comeback from down 2-0 by a Privateers squad since their Sun Belt days when they came back from the same deficit to defeat Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Tournament.
 
The comeback started when the Privateers staved off La Salle's multiple attempts to tie the set. After the Explorers used their final timeout, they briefly trimmed New Orleans' lead to one. However, the Privateers came back strong, using a big service game as part of an 8-1 run to close the set.
 
New Orleans survived five ties and four lead changes in an even closer fourth set. The Privateers had a 22-18 lead sliced in half. Still leading 24-22, the Privateers got one of their 10 service aces to finish the set and push it to a fifth.
 
The Privateers were trailing narrowly early when they appeared to have a kill to go back on serve down two. After a delay, it was determined New Orleans was out of rotation on the rally and the point was switched putting La Salle up 9-5. The Explorers steadily drew away from there partially on the strength of four blocks.
 
After two sets, the Privateers had 21 attack errors to just four for La Salle. The second set saw a tight score line early on, but with La Salle leading 13-11, they went on an 8-0 run to put the set out of reach. The Explorers earned their points in the run from two kills, one block, one service error, one ace, and three Privateers attack errors.
 
Dunn and Kaitlyn Grice each had 14 kills to lead the offense. Grice also made the all-tournament team for the Privateers. Samantha Uline had her first collegiate double figure kill output with 11. Rondolyn Bryant added eight kills while Cara Sander posted five. Celeste Ramirez added 38 assists and 13 digs. There were 10 service aces in total with three each recorded by Grice and Shaylene Reimer.
 
For the Explorers, Ashley Felton led all hitters with 14 kills in 22 attempts. Bryanna Davis added 11 kills and Kelly Perillo had nine. Jensen Sharrits racked up 23 digs and had three service aces. The Explorers and Privateers combined for 16 aces and 18 service errors.
 
The Privateers will next travel to take part in the UNC-Asheville Tournament starting on Thursday, Sept. 10. New Orleans will play four matches in total on the week.


ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alexis Wesley-Eastern Washington
Jessica Gilbert-Eastern Washington
Kayla Fitzgerald-Providence
Michelle Cruz-Providence
Ashley Felton-La Salle
Kaitlyn Grice-New Orleans
 
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