Volleyball Outlasts Lamar In Five-Set Thriller

Beaumont, Texas- The University of New Orleans volleyball team continues to work overtime.  The Privateers played their ninth five-set match of the season and came out on top against Cardinals of Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. 

Thanks to an 18-kill performance by sophomore Brianna Vega, one short of her career high, New Orleans defeated Lamar 3-2, (23-25, 26-24, 28-30, 25-19, 15-11).  UNO (9-11-3-5 Southland) is 6-3 this season in five-set matches and the victory over Lamar is the second consecutive win on the road for the Privateers.  The last time they accomplished that feat was back-to-back road wins in 2016 over Florida Gulf Coast (9-3-16) and Jacksonville (9-9-16).

FIRST SET
The Privateers led through most of the set until Lamar grabbed the lead at 18-17.  Brianna Vega had 4 kills however Lamar (3-15,1-7 Southland) hung on to win the first set 25-23.

SECOND SET
Like the opening set, the second set was close from beginning to end and the result was again a two-point difference. A kill by Kaitlyn Grice decided things, 26-24.  Grice, one of the hitting percentage leaders in the Southland Conference, was hitting at a .667 clip after two sets.

THIRD SET
Set three was a marathon affair won by Lamar 30-28.  After three sets Kaitlyn, Grice, Brianna Vega and Blessing Dun had 10 kills each.

SET FOUR
If there was a lopsided set in the match this was it.  New Orleans' largest lead was seven as they took the set 25-19.

SET FIVE
Another back-and-forth set but when the Cardinals closed to 12-11, the Privateers closed the deal with the final three points of the match---Vega supplied match point with a kill for a 15-11 fifth set win.

BY THE NUMBERS
With 16 kills and 8 digs on the night, junior Blessing Dunn recorded her sixth double-double of the season.  Kaitlyn Grice had 11 kills and 8 digs.  The junior had a hitting percentage of .360.  Lane Hindenburg had 11 kills and turned in a .346 hitting percentage.  Brianna Vega had 8 digs to go along with her 18 kills while Sarah Thomas led the team in assists with 34.

It's a quick turnaround for the Privateers as they return home for a Thursday night match October 19 against Northwestern State at the Human Performance Center.  Start time is 6:30 p. m.

Fans are encouraged to follow @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, @UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like /UNOPrivateers on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
 
For more information on New Orleans Women's Volleyball and Privateers Athletics, visit our official website, www.unoprivateers.com or follow us on social media.
 
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