Volleyball Prepares for Tough Competition at Omni Invitational

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans volleyball team saved its most competitive nonconference tournament for last, as the Privateers venture to Colorado to compete in the Omni Invitational. Play for UNO begins on Friday, Sept. 16 when the Privateers take on Chicago State at 11 a.m. in Boulder, Colorado, followed by an evening bout with Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado at 8 p.m. New Orleans wraps up the tournament circuit on Saturday, Sept. 17, when they go back to Boulder to take on No. 18 Colorado.

Along with facing a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time this season, the Privateers will be opposite two of the premier net-enforcing teams in the country. Both schools from Colorado are ranked in the top-20 of Division I in blocks per set averages while leading their respective conferences in the statistic. Each team is led by two different student-athletes who boast block per set averages over 1.30.

"In order to get better you have to compete against the best," head coach Millicent Van Norden explained. "They will play a fast, power game that's low error. It will be a great for us to test our attempt against these teams. I would like to see us compete with more symmetry with quality systematic play on the offensive and defensive side of the ball."

New Orleans is fresh off a 2-2 outing in the Jax State Invitational, leaving on a high note after a 3-0 sweep over Jackson State on Sept. 10. The Privateers average 1.61 service aces per set, the 51^st best in the nation and second in the Southland Conference. As a unit, UNO averages 11.0 kills off a .166 hitting percentage with 10.28 assists, 12.89 digs and 1.56 blocks.

Freshman Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Finance) ranks second in the SLC in assists per with 8.82, dishing out the ball to fellow freshman Jordan Yauch (Biological Science) who averages 2.58 kills and sophomore Blessing Dunn (Business Management) who averages 2.54. On defense, Sophomore Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) averages 3.47 digs per set, followed by Dunn at 3.20, while sophomore Kaitlyn Grice (Biology) averages a team-best 0.76 blocks per set.

The opening opponent for UNO is Chicago State, who dropped a 3-1 decision to Western Illinois on Tuesday, Sept. 13, following a 1-2 outing in the ISTAP Collegiate Cup Invitational to make their season record 1-9. As a unit, the Cougars average 9.23 kills per set off a .082 hitting percentage with 8.29 assists, 1.83 blocks and 11.83 digs. Chicago State also averages 1.03 service aces per set, the fourth-best in the Western Athletic Conference.

Kiana Chaney anchors the defense with 3.51 digs per set, the sixth-highest in the WAC, with Shedella Smith and Sofia average .90 and .86 blocks respectively. Offensively, Chicago State is paced by Dzeni Hadzisehovic who averages 2.77 kills on a .230 mark while the Cougars alternate setter responsibilities throughout their matches with Kelsey Taylor leading three players who average over 2.50 assists with 3.89.

Up next for the Privateers is Colorado State, who dropped a pair of contest last weekend to Wichita State and nationally-ranked Texas to drop them to 4-4 on the season. The Rams lead the Mountain West Conference in hitting percentage (.256) and blocks (3.02) while ranking third in kills per set (13.36) and fifth in assists (12.07) Colorado State also averages 13.64 digs and 1.43sercive aces.

At the net, Alexandra Poletto and Kirstie Hillyer rank one and two in the MWC and 22^nd and 28^th nationally in blocks per set with 1.44 and 1.42 respectively. Cassidy Denny anchors the back line for the Rams, boasting the third-highest dig per set average in the Mountain West with a 4.46 mark.
Poletto also ranks nationally with her .390 hitting percentage, the 38^th best in Division I and 5^th in the MWC. Hanna Jasmine averages a team-best 3.00 kills set while Katie Oleksah averages 10.68 assists, ranking third in the MWC.

UNO's final opponent in the Omni Invitational is nationally-ranked Colorado, who split a pair of matches in San Diego, California last weekend to maintain the No. 18 spot in the polls. The Buffalos rank 10^th in Division I in team blocks per set (3.05) and 13^th in hitting percentage (.297). Colorado also averages 13.14 kills, 12.21 assists, 12.00 digs and 1.10 service aces.

The Buffalos duo at the net average a combined 2.86 blocks, with Nagheda Abu boasting 1.55 to rank 15^th in the nation and Joslyn Hayes who just misses the top-50 with 1.31 while Abu hitting .421 on the season to rank 13^th in Division I. Kiara McKibben averages 7.34 assists for Colorado while Cierra Simpson posts a team-best 3.21 digs per set.

Following the Omni Invitational, the Privateers will begin Southland Conference play against Houston Baptist in the home opener on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Human Performance Center. Admission is free.