NEW ORLEANS – After four weeks of nonconference tournaments, the University of New Orleans volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of the Human Performance Center on Thursday, Sept. 21, when they host Houston Baptist in the first home match of the 2016 season at 7 p.m. The matchup against the Huskies also marks the start of Southland Conference play for the Privateers.
UNO looks to reestablish the home court advantage created last season, when the Privateers went 12-5 at the HPC.
"We are excited to be competing on our home court," head coach
Millicent Van Norden explained. "We have amazing fans that have been waiting for our first home match for weeks and have been telling me how much they are looking forward to seeing us in person."
The Privateers, coming off an 0-3 weekend in the Omni Invitational against a competitive field featuring No. 18 Colorado, are averaging 10.8 kills off a .140 hitting percentage with 10.1 assists, 12.5 digs, 1.52 blocks and 1.37 service aces. Setter
Sarah Thomas (Accounting and Financing) quarterbacks the offense with 8.70 assists per set, the third-best average in the Southland Conference, with outside hitters
Jordan Yauch (Biological Science) and
Blessing Dunn (Business Administration) receiving the bulk of the passes as both average over 2.50 kills per set at 2.65 and 2.56 respectively.
Brianna Vega (Biological Science) posted a team-best 2.57 kills per set average last weekend to increase her season average to 1.94.
Defensively,
Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) anchors the back line at the libero position with 3.48 digs per set, followed by Dunn who chips in 3.11. At the net, middle blockers
Kaitlyn Grice (Physiology) and
Rondolyn Bryant (Exercise Physiology) both have 25 total blocks on the season.
UNO will be looking to make program history at the HPC, as the Privateers have never defeated Houston Baptist since the series began in 2012.
HBU arrives to the Lakefront after an 0-3 outing in the UT Arlington Invitational to make their season record 8-7 heading into league play. The Huskies average 13.0 kills on a .200 clip with 12.3 assists, 15.1 digs, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 service aces. Bailey Banks lead Houston Baptist in both offense and defense with 3.65 kills per set off a .224 hitting percentage with 3.44 digs, all team-highs. Kayla Armer averages 10.02 assists per set, the most in the SLC, while Blair Gillard boasts 1.11 blocks per set.
"We will have to get off to a quick start against HBU and fend off their aggressive offense to be successful," Van Norden said. "We need to have an efficient, low error offense, aggressive but stable serving and strong defensive stances in order to win. I believe we can put together everything we need to get a victory at home."
Prior to the match, fans are welcome to arrive at the Human Performance Center early for Privateer Fest. The pregame party, hosted by the UNO Athletic Department, UNO Blue Krewe and UNO SAAC, is free to attend and will have giveaways, food trucks, a DJ and the Privateers' cheer and dance teams. Privateer Fest starts at 5:30 p.m. and runs until first serve at 7 p.m.
Following the home opener, UNO welcomes Lamar to the HPC on Saturday, Sept. 24, in a Southland Conference match. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. and admission is free.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
