BOX SCORE (PDF)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Despite strong collegiate debuts for three freshmen, the University of New Orleans volleyball team fell 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-11) to the host Southeast Missouri State Redhawks on the opening day of the Redhawks Drury Hotels Invitational in the season opener.
Freshman setter
Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Finance) paced the Privateers (0-1) with a filled stat line of 42 assists, eight digs, two blocks assisted, two service aces and two kills. On the offensive end, rookie outside hitters
Jordan Yauch (Biology Sciences) and
Brianna Vega Biology Sciences) both recorded identical 12-kill, nine-dig outings.
"I think there is some promise in the way that we started the match," head coach
Millicent Van Norden said. "We came out and played competitive volleyball, but Southeast Missouri did a good job of sticking to what was working well for them on offense throughout the match."
Sophomore outside hitter
Blessing Dunn (Business Management) led a balanced defensive effort with 12 digs with six Privateers finishing the match with eight digs or more. Along with Dunn, Vega, Yauch and Thomas, sophomore libero
Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) posted eight digs.
UNO recorded six service aces as a unit while teaming up at the net for four combined assisted blocks. Southeast Missouri (1-0) recorded 61 kills on a .324 clip with 73 team digs.
The newcomers made an instant impact in the contest, as Thomas recorded assists on the opening two plays with the second setting up Vega to put New Orleans ahead 2-0. UNO never trailed by more than a point in the first set while leading by as many as five in the 25-21 opening set victory.
Southeast Missouri took control of the second frame in the early phase, going on an 8-0 run to break an 8-8 tie and take a commanding 16-8 advantage. Trailing by seven late in the second stanza, 21-15, Dunn sparked a Privateer rally following a SEMO service error with back-to-back aces followed by a kill from Vega to bring the visitors within three at 21-18. New Orleans continued to fight its way back into the set, however, the hosts held on for a 25-22 triumph.
Neither side managed to find their rhythm in the third set, as both teams were unable to take a lead greater than two for the bulk of the frame. After nine ties and five lead changes, Southeast Missouri managed to string together a 3-0 rally to tilt the set in their favor at 19-16. Trailing 23-19, senior middle blocker
Keke Richards (Business Management) rallied the troops with three kills in a New Orleans' 4-0 run to knot up the score at 23-all before Southeast Missouri scored the final two points to take the set.
After three competitive sets, Southeast Missouri muscled out a 25-11 set four to clinch the win off a .452 attack percentage. UNO never led in the final stanza, unable to recover from a 7-0 run by the hosts that put them down 20-10.
"The team had great energy throughout the match," Van Norden added. "No one turned on anyone when the match was not going our way. We stayed together even though it was a tough loss."
Coming off the bench, Richards chipped in eight kills on an accurate .889 clip.
"Keke gave us a huge lift off of the bench as we expected her to," reflected Van Norden. "She's a fast middle and she does a great job of making herself available as a hitter in transition play."
The Privateers get little rest, as they are back in action at 4:30 p.m. against in-state foe Louisiana Tech. UNO will play its home opener against Houston Baptist on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:00 p.m. to kick off the Southland Conference docket. Admission to all New Orleans home volleyball matches is free.
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