Aggressive Service Game Not Enough For Volleyball In Loss To Incarnate Word

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NEW ORLEANS –The University of New Orleans volleyball team hosted University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-22).

New Orleans (4-19, 1-9 SLC) served up eight aces compared to two from Incarnate Word (9-13, 5-5 SLC) and nearly matched the visitors in assists (37-36), digs (32-30) and kills (43-39), but a .352 hitting percentage and nine total blocks propelled the Cardinals to the sweep.

"We played them close, but we kept making uncharacteristic errors that costed us," head coach Millicent Van Norden said. "We really needed this one and we had our chances, but I think the pressure and the situations got the better of us."

Freshman setter Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Finance) led the Privateers with a match-high 31 digs and three service aces while also contributing four digs on defense. Freshmen outside hitter Brianna Vega (Biological Science) paced the attack with nine kills, with sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Grice (Biology) chipping in seven.

On defense, sophomore outside hitter Blessing Dunn (Business Management) anchored the royal blue and silver with 10 digs, followed by sophomore defensive specialist Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) with six. Senior middle blocker Keke Richards (Business Management), Grice and Thomas all logged blocks in the match.

Neither side managed to take a lead greater than three in the opening set, resulting in a match-high 19 tied scores and 11 lead changes. UNO took its biggest lead of the frame off a 4-0 run with kills from Vega and Grice, putting the hosts up 13-11. New Orleans was the first side to force set point, using a kill from Vega to give them the 24-23 lead, but UIW scored back-to-back points to force their own set point and two of the final three points to go up 1-0 overall.

After dropping a second set where the Privateers trailed for the bulk of the frame, UNO gave the visitors another competitive outing in the finale. Trailed early 2-5, the Privateers responded and knotted the score up 7-all using kills from Grice, Vega and Dunn and took their first lead of the set at 10-9 off a Thomas service ace. UNO extended the separation to as much as three at 14-11 before the Cardinals responded and tied it up at 15-15. The score remained within two on either side until back-to-back kills by the visitors gave them the match.

UNO is back in action on Thursday, Oct. 27 when the Privateers hits the road for the second leg of the regular season series with McNeese State. New Orleans returns to the Human Performance Center on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when Northwestern State comes to town for a 7 p.m. match. Admission to all home volleyball matches is free.