NEW ORLEANS – In what is becoming a normality for the Privateers, the University of New Orleans (7-7, 1-1 Southland) battled back to force a fifth set versus back-to-back Southland Conference champion Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (5-8, 2-0 Southland) Saturday afternoon in the Human Performance Center. The Privateers fell just short of their second consecutive conference victory as the Islanders escaped NOLA with a victory, 21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12.
Kaitlyn Grice led UNO with 12 kills on .320 hitting and
Kyra Hunter and
Lane Hindenburg joined her in double digits with 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively.
Rondolyn Bryant (.312),
Brianna Vega and
Blessing Dunn each tallied seven and Dunn and
Manela Grau combined for four service aces. Grau registered 26 assists and
Sarah Thomas followed with 23. Defensively, Grice, Hunter and Hindenburg recorded three blocks apiece and Dunn finished with 16 digs.
SET ONE
Serving played a role in the 6-0 run that propelled the Privateers to a 15-8 lead as two aces gave New Orleans the seven-point lead.
UNO took a 1-0 lead with the 25-21 victory in the opening stanza. Grau was credited with two aces, Bryant picked up four kills and Thomas and Grau each recorded six assists.
SET TWO
The Islanders and Privateers traded points until Emily Hubacek's back-to-back-to-back aces gave TAMUCC a 15-12 edge.
The Ders tied the match with a 25-19 victory in set No. 2.
SET THREE
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came out of the break with a 11-4 lead. The Islanders hit .324 en route to a 25-17 victory in the set to take a 2-1 lead in the match behind Brittany Gilpin and Mallory Moran.
SET FOUR
Down by as much as six and late 17-12, the Privateers stormed back to tie the set at 20-all. The rally was complete as New Orleans forced a decisive fifth set after the 25-23 victory. In the set, UNO registered three aces.
SET FIVE
The momentum remained in favor of the Blue and Silver as the home squad picked up the first four points of the set. The clubs switched sides with New Orleans leading 8-3.
The reigning Southland Conference champions regrouped to knot it up at 11 and took the match 15-12.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@UNOPrivateers on Twitter,
@UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like
/UNOPrivateers on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
