Volleyball Ends Play in Omni Invitational Against No. 18 Colorado

BOX SCORE (PDF)

BOULDER, Colo. - For the first time since the 2013, the University of New Orleans volleyball team competed against a nationally-ranked opponent in No. 18 Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Privateers gave the hosts a competitive opening set, but fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-12) to conclude play in the Omni Invitational and end the nonconference tournament schedule.

Against one of the top teams in the country, New Orleans (3-9) managed to hold Colorado (7-2) to 11.67 kills per set with 11.33 assists, their third-lowest averages of the season, while joining Big Ten Conference members Penn State (No. 20 in AVCA Coaches Poll) and Illinois (receiving votes in AVCA Coaches Poll) as the only teams this season to hold the No. 18 to under a .300 hitting percentage in  a CU victory.

"I think we started the match stable and had a solid understanding of our needs in order to perform well," head coach Millicent Van Norden explained. "They are a strong blocking team and our attackers had to work exceptionally hard to score."

Sophomore Blessing Dunn (Business Management) paced the offense with a match-high 10 kills while chipping in seven digs on defense. Freshman Brianna Vega (Biological Sciences) posted seven kills and seven digs with a team-best three blocks in the match while Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Financing) dished out 21 assists. Sophomore Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) anchored the defense with 12 digs.

The Privateers kept the opening set with the Buffs close, using a team-best 11 kills while holding Colorado to a .200 hitting percentage in the 25-18 loss. Vega posted the first kill for the Privateers against the nationally-ranked foe, followed by a Yauch termination that knotted up the score 2-2. Colorado responded with back-to-back points and held onto the lead for the rest of the frame. UNO kept the deficit within five for most of the frame, firing off 3-0 spurts when the deficit started to extend past, could not bring the separation closer than three. The final 3-0 rally, highlighted by Rondolyn Bryant (Exercise Physiology) posted a kill and assisted block with Vega on consecutive plays, made the score 21-18 but was followed by a 4-0 run by the host to end the frame.

Colorado controlled the final two sets, using early runs to create separation. The Buffs used 13 kills on a .440 hitting percentage to muscle out the 25-13 second set victory and an 11-3 start in the third stanza to cruise to the 25-12 clincher.

"All of the challenges we have faced in these tournaments will prepare us for Southland Conference play when that starts this coming week," Van Norden concluded. "We are prepared for any and all situations that a team can throw at us. I'm looking forward to this week at home."

UNO is back in action on Thursday, September 17, when they host Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist in the home opener. Match begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free.