Volleyball Set For Second Road Trip Of The Season At North Texas Challenge

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans volleyball team will hit the road for the second consecutive week for the North Texas Challenge, Friday and Saturday, September 8-9 in Denton, Texas.  The University of North Texas will serve as host school.

Joining the Privateers in the North Texas Challenge are Campbell University (6-1), Oregon State (6-0) and the University of North Texas (5-1).  New Orleans will face Campbell University Friday at 4 p. m. North Texas Saturday at 11 a. m. and Oregon State Saturday at 5 p. m.

UNO's three opponents this weekend sport a combined record of 17-2 this season.

"By design we wanted to increase our level of competition," said head coach Millicent Van Norden.  "We think we'll see some things from these three teams that we'll see from our conference opponents having two conference teams that are undefeated in conference."

Central Arkansas (6-0) and Houston Baptist (5-0) of the Southland Conference have perfect records.

New Orleans (4-2) is off to the best start of the season after six games since the 2014 season when they went 4-2 to start the season.  For the second consecutive week, New Orleans went 2-1 with victories over Florida International and Alcorn State at the Tennessee State Invitational in Nashville.  The Privateers fell to the host school Tennessee State in five sets.

Junior Kaitlyn Grice continues her solid performance and she was named to the Tennessee State Invitational All-Tournament Team.  Grice had 33 kills, 20 blocks and 10 digs in 13 sets in Nashville.  She ranks first in the Southland Conference in blocks with 1.31 per set and fourth in hitting percentage (.395).

Blessing Dunn, had 37 kills and 39 digs in 13 sets in Nashville.  The junior from Jacksonville, Alabama was named to the all-tournament team during week one of the season at the New Orleans Invitational.

The victory over Florida International was a showcase of youth as freshmen led the way.  Rhyan Rand had 14 kills and 14 digs, Kyra Hunter had 8 kills and 11 assists and Savannah Matthews had 6 assists and 12 digs.

New Orleans got additional help from the bench thanks to Lane Hindenburg with 24 kills over three matches at the Tennessee State Invitational.

With one more win, the Privateers will equal their win total of last season when they posted a 5-25 mark.

"We're looking to go 3-0.  We've had the opportunity during the past two weekends but couldn't put it together, so we can do it this weekend. We'll have to play with low unforced errors and quality defense," said Van Norden.

Up next for New Orleans, the UAB Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama, Friday and Saturday, September 15-16.

The Privateers next home game will be the SLC opener versus University of the Incarnate Word, Thursday, September 21, 6:30 p. m. at the Human Performance Center.

For more information on New Orleans Women's Volleyball and Privateers Athletics, visit our official website, www.unoprivateers.com or follow us on social media.
 
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