Volleyball Aims To End Recent Skid At Jax State Invitational

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans volleyball team continues the nonconference tournament circuit this weekend in the Jax State Invitational, where the Privateers will compete in four matches over two days. On Friday, Sept. 9, the Privateers begin the weekend slate against Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. followed by host Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 10, UNO kicks off the morning docket with a 9 a.m. bout against the University of Alabama at Birmingham before wrapping up competition against Jackson State at 2 p.m.

The Privateers are hoping to rebound against a familiar field in the Jax State Invitational after a competitive field in the FGCU Hilton Garden Hill dropped UNO's season record to 1-5. In the 2015 season, New Orleans swept both Mississippi Valley and Jackson State, the eventual Southwest Athletic Conference champions.

"We expect every team to bring a competitive performance this weekend," head coach Millicent Van Norden explained. "After last weekend we need everyone to give their best on the court in Jacksonville, but I expect them all to rise to the challenge."

As a team, the Privateers are averaging 10.5 kills on a .133 hitting percentage with 10.0 assists per set, 13.3 digs 1.5 blocks and service aces. Freshman outside hitter Jordan Yauch (Biological Science) paces the UNO attack with 2.68 kills followed by sophomore Blessing Dunn (Business Management) who chips in 2.19 and a team-high eight service aces. Senior Keke Richards (Business Management) adds 1.67 kills off a team-best .400 hitting percentage while freshman Sarah Thomas (Accounting & Finance) quarterbacks the offense with 8.50 assists per set.

Defensively, Dunn and fellow sophomore Samantha Uline (Exercise Physiology) anchor the defense with 3.52 and 3.18 digs respectively while Kaitlyn Grice (Biology) leads the front line with 0.75 blocks per set.

"I'm hoping to see a more effectively executed offense and defense this weekend," continued Van Norden. "We are going out with a focus on quality execution in every match."

Up first for UNO is a Mississippi Valley State team that had the previous weekend off, but dropped a 3-0 decision to Mississippi College to drop their season record to 1-4. The Devilettes are averaging 7.43 kills per set on a .036 clip with 6.50 assists, 11.29 digs and 0.57 blocks and service aces. Kalin Barnes leads the attack with 2.82 kills per set off a .200 hitting percentage, both ranking in the top five of the SWAC, with Cynthia Richards placing just above her in the statistic standings with a .203 clip. Brooklyn Hudson spreads the ball for Mississippi Valley, averaging 4.92 assists while Sydney Robinson paces the defense with the second-best digs per set average in the SWAC at 3.71.

The nightcap of the opening day pits UNO against Jacksonville State, who went 2-2 last weekend in the "Bash at the Boro" and split a home doubleheader on Wednesday, Sept. 7, to make their record 3-6. The Gamecocks boast one of the top front lines in the country, leading Division I with 81.5 total blocks and 52^nd with 2.55 per set while Mackenzie Rombach ranks 13^th in the country with 36.0 total blocks and Allyson Zuhlke is 40^th with 32.0.

Jacksonville State averages 12.16 kills per set on a .194 hitting percentage with 11.31 assists, 14.12 digs, and 0.84 service aces per set. Individually, Zuhlke adds 3.59 kills on a .308 clip, both ranking in the top five of the Ohio Valley Conference, to go with her 1.0 block per set average. Jennifer Hart and Rachel Perucki share the responsible of setter for the Gamecocks, averaging 5.41 and 5.08 assists respectively. On the defensive front, Hannah Kirk averages 3.59 digs per set while Rombach averages a team-best 1.12 blocks.

UNO looks to continue its successes against opponents from Conference-USA, after defeating Louisiana Tech earlier in the season, when they take on UAB. The Blazers went 2-2 in the UAB/Samford Challenge, giving them a 3-4 mark on the season.

As a team, UAB averages 13.38 kills off a .213 hitting percentage with 13.04 assists, 16.46 digs, 2.46 blocks and 0.85 service aces per set. Erika Zembyla leads two Blazers who average over 3.0 kills per set with 3.58 followed by Haley Jared at 3.27, both ranked in the top 10 of C-USA at six and nine respectively. Amber Treace dishes out the ball with 10.96 assists per set, the 30^th-best mark in the nation while her 285 total assists ranks 15^th.

UAB has the C-USA leader in digs anchoring the defense in Emily Martinez, who averages 4.92 which ranks 42^nd nationally. On the front line, the Blazers have Victoria Young and Petra Silic protecting the net with 1.17 and 1.12 blocks per sets averages.

The Jax State Invitational finale for UNO is against Jackson State, who went 0-2 at the University of Memphis Tournament last weekend to drop their season record to 0-6. JSU is averaging 8.45 kills on a .007 hitting percentage with 7.82 assists, 13.50 digs and 0.82 blocks and service aces per set. The Tiger defense is led by Tyler Moorer, who averages 3.09 digs per set, and Markayisha Masani who chips in 2.32 digs.

Following the Jax State Invitational, UNO concludes the tournament gauntlet at the Omni Invitational from Sept. 16-17 in Boulder, Colorado.  UNO's first home match is slated for Thursday, Sept. 22, when the Privateers play host to Houston Baptist in the Human Performance Center. First serve for the contest is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free.