PHOTO GALLERY 1 | PHOTO GALLERY 2
NEW ORLEANS – In a battle between
UNO's, the Privateers defeated the University of Omaha Nebraska (0-1) in four sets and rallied from a 2-0 deficit versus the University of Houston (2-0) before falling in five sets on day one of the University of New Orleans (1-1) Invitational Friday in the Human Performance Center.
Brianna Vega recorded 16 kills in the victory over the Mavericks and 17 against the Cougars.
Sarah Thomas picked up a double-double in match one and finished a dig shy of back-to-back double-doubles, finishing the latter game with 31 assists and nine digs to go with her four service aces.
Blessing Dunn posted 11 kills and 11 digs versus UH.
Lane Hindenburg collected 11 total blocks and in match No. 2,
Ehize Omoghibo picked up eight and
Kaitlyn Grice followed with seven.
NEW ORLEANS DEFEATED OMAHA 3-1
SET ONE
The Privateers cruised to a 21-12 lead behind five team blocks and a .333 hitting percentage. New Orleans closed the set with a 25-16 win. In the set, Vega collected four kills and three blocks. Hindenburg led all players with four blocks.
SET TWO
A back and forth contest ended with Omaha knotting the match at 1-1. New Orleans cut its deficit to two, but the Mavericks were able to pull away late to take set two 25-21. In the set, Vega tallied five kills and Dunn and
Samantha Uline led all players with five digs apiece.
SET THREE
A 12-5 New Orleans lead forced a Maverick timeout. The visiting UNO rallied back, and the set featured 13 ties, but the Privateers were able to take a 2-1 lead, taking set No. 3 25-21. Thomas registered seven assists and Uline added an ace in the set.
SET FOUR
Thomas set up her teammates nine times in the clinching set with Grice on the receiving end four times. Dunn and Thomas added six digs apiece and Dunn and Hindenburg combined for a block in the 25-21 win, improving to 1-0 on the year.
INSIDE THE BOX
Thomas recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 15 digs, Vega picked up 16 kills and five blocks and Hindenburg collected a career-high seven blocks in the four-set win. Dunn led all players with 16 digs, followed by Thomas' 15 and Uline's 14. In her Privateer debut, Omoghibo matched Hindenburg with six kills to follow Dunn's seven, Grice's eight and Vega's 16.
HOUSTON DEFEATS NEW ORLEANS IN FIVE SETS
PHOTO GALLERY
SET ONE
Houston led by as much as five, but New Orleans continued to chip and cut it to 22-19 before the Cougars were able to squeak past to earn the opening set win 25-20. Vega was credited with four kills and Hindenburg and Omoghibo combined for two blocks. Thomas and
Nela Grau registered service aces.
SET TWO
Houston looked dominant early, but the Privateers erased its four-point deficit behind kills by Vega and blocks by Omoghibo and Grice to take its first lead of the set – 20-19. The clubs traded points with UNO forcing the Cougars to take their final timeout after regaining the lead. UH took a 2-0 lead with the 25-23 win.
SET THREE
The Cougars took a 14-11 lead, but UNO scored four unanswered to regain the lead, 15-14 on kills by Hindenburg and Omoghibo sandwiched by a Grice ace. After UH tied the set at 15-all, New Orleans capped a mini-run with a Grau ace to make it 18-15.
Thomas posted back-to-back aces to put UNO in the driver's seat – 23-18 – and Dunn's kill forced a fourth set as the Silver and Blue took No. 3 25-20.
In the set, Thomas posted five assists, two aces and five digs, Vega and Dunn teamed for seven kills and Grice picked up two blocks.
SET FOUR
A revitalized New Orleans team brought the HPC crowd to its feet, beginning the set with a commanding 8-2 lead. Moments later, the lead became 22-11, and ultimately, UNO ended the comeback hopes of UH, taking No. 4 25-23. The Privateers tallied five team blocks in the set and held Houston to .056 hitting.
SET FIVE
Houston scored the set's first four points and held on despite four consecutive UNO points to make it 9-7, improving to 2-0 with the 15-11 win in No. 5 and the 3-2 match victory.
NEXT UP
The Privateers conclude the UNO Invitational tomorrow at 5 p.m. versus Murray State University (0-1). The Racers fell to Houston in straight sets Friday and play the University of Nebraska Omaha at 10 a.m.
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