NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans volleyball team will open the regular season Friday, August 25 in the University of New Orleans Invitational at the Human Performance Center.
The Privateers will host three schools, Alcorn State, Fordham and Southeast Missouri State during the six-game, two-day affair. The Privateers will kick off competition against Alcorn State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Friday morning at 10 a. m. The Privateers will return to the court against Fordham Friday evening a 6 p.m. UNO will finish the first weekend of the season Saturday, August 26, at 1 p. m. when they'll face Southeast Missouri State.
In her fourth season at the helm, head coach
Millicent Van Norden is excited about this year's squad. With 9 returnees and 5 newcomers, Van Norden says there's reason for optimism because the level of talent has improved.
"We have a higher quality of experience by position and in most positions better depth. We can go to what we would consider our second string and compete, which is different from last year. Our mindset is different. We aren't complaining when things are difficult and that's a good sign that we are mentally competitive."
After posting a 19-16 record in 2015, the first winning season since 2010 when the Privateers posted a 10-9 mark, New Orleans fell to a disappointing 5-25 in 2016. However, Van Norden didn't consider it a sign of regression.
"The Previous year (2015) we had veteran leadership while last year we had a team of babies," she chuckled. "We had freshmen and sophomores and a handful of upperclassmen and I mean a small handful. So I don't think it was a step back, we just had a lot of learning to do."
One of the returnees Van Norden will count on is 6-2 middle blocker
Kaitlyn Grice. The junior from Valrico, Florida led the team in total blocks (81) last season.
"I think she feels she has something to prove to this conference never having been named to the all-conference team at her position. She always does things right, she works hard staying before and after practice. She is a great teammate and she has a 4.0 so you can't ask for more in a student-athlete."
Grice's teammates recognized how special she is by electing her team captain.
Additional returnees are senior middle blocker
Rondolyn Bryant, juniors
Blessing Dunn,
Samantha Uline, and
Lane Hindenburg. They're joined by sophomores
Sarah Thomas, who played in every match as a freshman, defensive specialist
Andrea Nava, outside hitter
Brianna Vega, and outside hitter Rhyand Rand.
The newcomers are
Manela Grau, a transfer from Midland College, along with freshmen
Savannah Matthews (libero), outside hitters
Jordan Schumacher and
Maxine Walsh are joined by
Kyra Hunter from Hoover, Alabama.
"The good thing about them is for the most part they are natural leaders so they all have a role to play. They know why they came to the University of New Orleans...to help this team grow and change the team culture. It's nice to see them so invested before we played a match," Van Norden added.
The Privateers open the New Orleans Invitational, Friday, Aug. 25, versus Van Norden's alma mater, Alcorn State at 10 a. m.
UNO will face Fordham in a 6pm match Friday evening. The last time the two clubs met was 2015 when the Privateers bested the Rams at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational in Fort Myers, Florida.
New Orleans will wrap up the weekend with a match against fast-paced Southeast Missouri State at 1pm. The Redhawks defeated New Orleans on Aug. 26 of last year, 3-1 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
It's safe to say the coach has high hopes for the 2017 Volleyball Privateers.
"They're determined, they're not pulling any punches and yelling at each other when things don't go right. That's awesome and a good sign."
After this weekend's University of New Orleans Invitational, the Privateers will hit the road next weekend to Nashville, Tennessee for the Tennessee State Invitational, September 1-2.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
