Thibodaux, La. – In what has become one of the many highlights of 2017, the University of New Orleans (11-15, 5-9 Southland) went the distance yet again Saturday in David R. Stopher Gymnasium, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Nicholls State University (4-23, 2-12 Southland) 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 25-15, 15-12.
With the win, New Orleans improved to 7-3 in five-set matches.
Lane Hindenburg, second on the club in hitting and among the conference's leaders, led the Privateers with 15 kills while
Blessing Dunn turned in her eighth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 17 digs. Freshman
Kyra Hunter added 12 kills and tied senior
Rondolyn Bryant with a match-high five blocks,
Kaitlyn Grice, who began the week hitting .500 to lead all Southland Conference athletes, added 15 kills and four blocks.
Jordan Shumacher finished one kill shy of her season-high. Defensively,
Andrea Nava led UNO with 27 digs.
Sarah Thomas and
Manela Grau recorded 32 assists and 23 assists, respectively, with Grau adding three service aces – the third and final clinching the victory for New Orleans.
"Initially, our offense came out strong but our defensive adjustments late in the match was huge in our comeback," said head coach
Millicent Van Norden. "It was a good win for us heading into the final week of the regular season."
The Privateers are vying for the final spot in the Southland Conference Championship, two games back of eighth place in the standings.
"Our focus needs to be on winning our last two matches," said Van Norden. "Worry about our game plan and execute."
SET ONE
The Privateers and Colonels traded points but New Orleans was able to secure the opening set victory 25-23, ending the stanza with three unanswered, capped off by Hindenburg's kill.
SET TWO
The close affair continued in the second with Nicholls able to give itself a late cushion, tying the match with a 25-21 victory. Up 24-19, the Privateers cut their deficit before the Colonels' kill.
SET THREE
Much like the two sets leading up to No. 3, the Privateers and Colonels continued to battle, but the Red and Black were able to take a 2-1 lead with the 25-22 win. Despite the loss, UNO tallied three aces in the frame – Grau picked up two – and trailed 5-0 to begin the set before storming back later with six consecutive points to take its first lead of the set, 12-11.
SET FOUR
Regrouping to take complete control of the set, the Blue and Silver exploded with six points to lead 24-13 before Dunn's kill forced the fifth, a set all too familiar for the Privateers.
SET FIVE
The score did not indicate how much New Orleans dominated but the ending did, with four unanswered for the set and match, 15-12. Prior to Grau's ace,
Brianna Vega and Grice teamed for a block after registering the previous two UNO points on kills.
NEXT UP
With two matches on the docket, the week begins at home November 7 versus Southeastern Louisiana University. The Privateers will honor their lone senior Ro Bryant, who will be playing in her final home match after four seasons in New Orleans.
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