KINGSVILLE, Texas – The University of New Orleans (1-4) resumes the 2018 season this weekend at the Emerald Beach Invitational on the Javelina Beach Volleyball Courts. Saturday pits the Privateers against Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (1-3) at 11:30 a.m. and first-year program Tarleton State University (n/a) at 2 p.m. and Sunday features matchups with host Texas A&M University-Kingsville (7-5) at 9 a.m. and Ottawa University (0-0) at 1 p.m.
New Orleans began the season hosting the New Orleans Invitational at Digs Volleyball Complex with a victory over Houston Baptist University 3-2.
Brianna Vega and
Madison Miller went 4-1 overall in the season-opening tournament.
Rachel Kuhn and
Cara Sander picked up wins in the top doubles spot and twins
Veronica Corcoran and
Victoria Corcoran earned two wins at No. 2.
PREVIEW FROM HEAD COACH MILLICENT VAN NORDEN
"The team has been training diligently to improve on our opening weekend performance," said head coach
Millicent Van Norden. "We are looking forward to competing against quality opponents and expect to have a strong showing this weekend."
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS
The Privateers are 1-1 versus the Ders after sweeping TAMUCC 5-0 in the Third Coast Classic last season. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's lone win came versus the University of North Florida (3-2) at the North Florida Tournament in Jacksonville.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
April 15, 2016 (HBU Invitational) – L, 2-3
March 25, 2017 (Third Coast Classic) – W, 5-0
ABOUT TARLETON STATE
The TexAnns are in their inaugural season after athletic director/head men's basketball coach Lonn Reisman announced the addition of beach volleyball.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
UNO is 1-0 versus the Javelinas with a 3-2 win over the tourney's host last season at the Third Coast Classic in Houston. 2017 was A&M-Kingsville's inaugural season and head coach Tanya Allen led the squad to a 10-win season. A 7-5 mark this season, TAMUK is 4-0 on the Javelina Beach Volleyball courts. Gabby Atchley (moved up to No. 1 this season) and Whitney Walker are 7-5 in the top spot, Macy Berg and Madison Brabham follow at 7-5 at No. 2 and Tenley Housler and Erin Umbel are 9-3 at No. 3.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
March 24, 2017 (Third Coast Classic) – W, 3-2
ABOUT OTTAWA
Also a new program, Friday's matches will be the inaugural ones for the Kansas university. Melissa Blessington is the head coach of the Braves.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersBeach on Twitter,
@PrivateersBeach on Instagram, like
/PrivateersVolleyball on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
