NEW ORLEANS – They were in an unfortunate yet familiar spot. Down 2-1 in the match but if you counted out the Privateers, you haven't seen the resiliency of the 2017 group. For the fourth time this season, the University of New Orleans (7-6, 1-0 Southland) earned a fifth-set victory with the 3-2 win over the University of the Incarnate Word (1-7, 0-1 Southland) Thursday evening in the Human Performance Center. The match was the Southland Conference opener for both squads.
The victory set history, marking the first time the program begins Southland Conference play with a W.
Taking the opening set 25-15, New Orleans fell behind after the Cardinals regrouped to take the next two, 26-24, 25-22, respectively. However, the defense – which collected 14 blocks, limited UIW to .181 hitting and completed the comeback with a 25-20 win in No. 4 and 15-12 victory in No. 5.
Manela Grau registered her third double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs and
Blessing Dunn picked up her fourth with 11 kills and 16 digs to go with a season-high five blocks. Pacing the way with 18 kills apiece were
Kyra Hunter (four blocks, .417 hitting) and
Lane Hindenburg (four blocks, .419).
Kaitlyn Grice was on a mission with seven blocked shots and eight kills. As a team, the Privateers finished with six aces and proved to be clutch, hitting .350 in the fourth set to force No. 5.
SET ONE
The return home couldn't begin any better. New Orleans scored the match's opening four points in its first home contest since late August. Moments later, a Hindenburg kill and service ace extended the UNO lead to 13-8.
The lead became six as a Hindenburg/Dunn block made it 19-13 Privateers. Hunter recorded three kills to this point and Dunn registered two blocks.
A Grice ace gave New Orleans six consecutive points and a 22-13 edge. UNO never trailed in the set, easing to a 25-15 victory behind a .417 hitting percentage and four blocks. Hunter led the squad with three kills and Dunn added two kills and three blocks. Rand, Grice and Hindenburg picked up two kills apiece.
SET TWO
The Cardinals led early in set No. 2 and by as much as five (17-12) but New Orleans cut into the deficit on a kill by Bryant, making it a three-point contest.
The Privateers defense came up big with two blocks late to make it a one-point set. After UIW reached set-point, Hindenburg's kill and Grice/Bryant's block tied the stanza at 24-all.
The Cardinals were able to secure the set victory 26-24 to tie the match at 1-1.
Heading into the third, Hindenburg had eight kills on nine attempts, Dunn picked up four blocks and Grice and Bryant each had three.
SET THREE
New Orleans looked to regain the lead in the match with an 11-9 edge in set No. 3. However, the Cardinals took a 23-17 lead before UNO forced a UIW timeout with three consecutive points.
Incarnate Word was able to take a 2-1 lead after taking the set 25-22. Hunter led the club with 10 kills and three players – Rand, Dunn and Nava – recorded 10 digs. Dunn and Grice each had five blocks and Hindenburg and Bryant followed with three apiece.
SET FOUR
UNO capitalized and took an 11-7 lead as it looked to mount a comebacker in the conference opener.
The balanced attack continued with two players reaching double figures in kills, pacing New Orleans to a 20-15 lead. The Blue and Silver's defense continued to shine, with four players reaching the four-block plateau.
The match was knotted at 2-2 with a 25-20 victory in set No. 4. The Privateer defense limited the Cardinals to .184 hitting through four sets and tallied 13 team blocks.
SET FIVE
The sixth fifth-set match of the season treated the fans in the Human Performance Center to a back and forth affair. The clubs traded points and after switching sides, UNO tied the match at 10-10.
A Hunter kill made it 12-11 New Orleans, forcing Incarnate Word to talk it over.
Back-to-back points clinched the victory for UNO 15-12, improving the record to 7-6 overall.
NEXT UP
The Privateers conclude a brief two-match homestand hosting the defending Southland Conference champion Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Saturday at 12 p.m. Live stats and video will be provided and can be accessed by visiting
UNOPrivateers.com, the official home of Privateers athletics.
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