Late Northwestern State Runs Too Much For Volleyball On The Road

BOX SCORE (PDF)

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans volleyball team took on Northwestern State on Thursday afternoon in a Southland Conference matchup, falling to the hosts 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-20).

New Orleans (4-15, 1-5 SLC) held the advantages in total blocks 6-4 and service aces 5-2, but could not overcome Northwestern State's (11-12, 6-2 SLC) 50 kills off a .325 hitting percentage.

"We started off slow and not urgent tonight," head coach Millicent Van Norden explained. "and when we were able to build a lead we had difficulty slowing down their offense. We need to improve on our toughness mentally.

Junior middle blocker Rondolyn Bryant (Exercise Physiology) paced the Privateers' attack with nine kills on a .333 clip while filing out the stat sheet with two assisted blocks, an assist and a dig. Freshman setter Sarah Thomas (Accounting and Finance) led UNO with 27 assists with freshman outside hitter Jordan Yauch (Biological Science), Blessing Dunn (Business Management) and junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Grice (Biology) all logging seven kills. New Orleans ended the match with five service aces, with freshman outside hitter Brianna Vega (Biological Science) having a match-high two.

On defense, sophomore defensive specialist Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) boasted 11 digs, followed by Dunn and freshman defensive specialist Andrea Nava (Education) with 10 apiece. Senior middle blocker Keke Richards (Business Management) and Kaitlyn Grice both finished the match with three blocks each.

Northwestern State opened up the first set with three-straight points and led the entire frame. UNO managed to bring the deficit to two early after a 3-0 run with a kill from Bryant, a block from Grice and a service ace from Uline made it 6-4. Continuing off the momentum from the three-point spurt, the Privateers made it a one-point game at 8-7 before a 4-0 response by the host made it 12-7. The royal silver and blue used another 3-0 rally later in the frame to trim the separation to three at 16-13, but another 4-0 counter by the Lady Demons extended their lead to 20-13.

UNO took its first lead of the evening in the second set, starting the frame with four-consecutive points to create an early lead. The Privateers held onto the lead until NWST knotted up the score at 13-all. Trailing 16-15, New Orleans fired off three-consecutive points to retake the lead and force a Northwestern timeout, with the hosts scoring six-straight following the timeout to take the 22-18 lead and keep the advantage for the remainder of the frame.

Facing elimination, the Privateers jumped ahead in the third set with six-consecutive points out of the gate forcing a Northwester timeout. As in the second set, Northwestern State fought their way back into the set, knotting it up at 9-all. The score stayed within one on either side until a late 4-0 run by the hosts put them ahead 21-17.

UNO's road swing concludes on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Central Arkansas with first serve scheduled for 12 p.m. The Privateers return to the friendly confines of the Human Performance Center on Tuesday, Oct. 18 when they host Nicholls at 7 p.m., kicking off a three-match homestand. Admission to all home volleyball matches is free.