BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – What an exclamation point victory to end day one of the Fight Like Hal Invitational! Down 24-22 in the third set versus Mississippi Valley State University (1-10), the Privateers collected four consecutive points to close the book on a three-match skid in convincing fashion, 25-10, 25-15, 26-14. The victory followed the University of New Orleans' (6-5) 25-15, 25-20, 25-14 loss to Western Carolina University (3-7) Friday evening at Bartow Arena on the campus of UAB.
The victory surpasses last season's win total, setting @Privateers_VB up for its final nonconference tilt of the regular season in host UAB tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Blessing Dunn picked up her third double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs in the victory over the Devilettes. Also in the match,
Kyra Hunter led all players with 12 kills on 47.4 percent hitting to go with a season-high six blocks.
Kaitlyn Grice and
Lane Hindenburg each collected eight kills and four blocks.
MATCH ONE
SET ONE
The Privateers trailed by as much as seven but four unanswered points cut the deficit to 12-9. However, the Catamounts were able to secure the opening set victory 25-15.
SET TWO
It was a back-and-forth affair until UNO tallied three consecutive points to go in front 10-9. The lead was New Orleans' first of the match.
After trading points, the Privateers strung together a 14-11 lead behind back-to-back-to-back kills by Dunn, Hindenburg and Brice. Western Carolina was able to take a 2-0 lead in the match after rallying from behind to take set No. 2 25-20.
Through the opening two stanzas, Dunn recorded eight digs and two blocks, Brice had six kills on a .417 hitting percentage and three blocks and Hindenburg added two swats.
SET THREE
The Catamounts were able to clinch the victory with a 25-14 win in No. 3, taking the match in straight sets.
GAME STATS
Andrea Nava tied for the match-high with 13 digs and Dunn added 10 digs, two blocks and seven kills. Grice was the story offensively with six kills on 13 attempts and three total blocks.
MATCH TWO
SET ONE
New Orleans jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the opening set and continued to dominate, knocking out Mississippi Valley State in set No. 1 25-10.
SET TWO
The balanced effort resumed with three players tallying five or more kills through the set. The Privateers easily took set No. 2 over the Trailblazers 25-15.
SET THREE
MVSU battled back from an early deficit to take its first lead of the match, 10-9. With the Trailblazers needing just one point to take the set, New Orleans collected four straight to clinch the straight set victory in impressive fashion.
GAME STATS
Tying Dunn with a team-high 10 digs was
Jordan Schumacher.
Manuela Grau surpasses the 20-assist plateau for the eighth time, leading the way with 22 assists, followed by
Sarah Thomas' 17 helpers in just her second match of the season and day.
NEXT UP
The Fight Like Hal Invitational concludes tomorrow at 2 p.m. when UNO takes on host UAB. Live stats and video will be provided and can be accessed by visiting
UNOPrivateers.com, the official home of Privateers athletics.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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