NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans (2-4) had a flare for the dramatic as they earned a split in a pair of five set thrillers. Falling to Hampton (2-4) (25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 25-19, 8-15) and knocking off the host Tennessee Tech (4-2) (24-26, 25-21, 23-25, 25-25, 15-12) Friday afternoon at the Hopper Eblin Center.
Sarah Thomas finished the day with a total of 64 assists, 32 against Hampton and 34 (ties career high) against Tennessee Tech.
Kaitlyn Grice finished with 15 kills and four total blocks.
Blessing Dunn (13 Kills and 25 digs),
Brianna Vega (13 kills and 11 digs), and
Nela Grau (12 assists and 10 digs) recorded a double-double against Tennessee Tech. And
Lane Hindenburg finished with 15 kills and 7 total blocks against the Golden Eagles
NEW ORLEANS V HAMPTON
SET ONE
The Privateers came out of the gates clicking on all cylinders, jumping out to a commanding six to two advantage highlighted by a pair of Grice kills and a service ace. But Hampton, would make a slight comeback making it nine to seven early on and would get no closer than a two-point deficit. As the Privateers would take the opening set 25-15, finishing on a 15-6 run.
The Blue and Silver hit .360 in the set, with Grice leading the way with five kills.
Ehize Omoghibo had three, and Hindenburg added a pair. UNO had four service aces in the set, two from Grice, and Hindenburg and
Andrea Nava had one apiece.
SET TWO
UNO looked to continue its set one dominance in set two by jumping out to an early five to two advantage, but the Pirates regained the lead 9-8 by going on a 7-3 run. The teams would trade leads three times in the set, but Hampton edged out the Privateer 25-22 to even things at 1-1.
SET THREE
The third set saw the Pirates jump out to a 10-5 lead to start set three, but the Privateers chipped away at the lead, eventually tying things at 16. But Hampton took a 2-1 lead after taking the set 25-23.
SET FOUR
Looking to keep hopes alive, New Orleans looked good jumping out to seven to three lead to start the set. After back-to-back service aces by
Jordan Schumacher made it 22-17 and stopping any comeback by Hampton took set No. 4 25-19. UNO had five service aces in the set and held the Pirates to .036 hitting.
SET FIVE
The Pirates were strong early taking the lead in the decisive set 6-3 and forced New Orleans to take a timeout. Out of the timeout New Orleans cut the deficit to 8-6 but would not get any closer as Hampton recorded its first win of the year by taking set five 15-8.
New Orleans defeats Tennessee Tech 3-2
SET ONE
The Privateers lead at time by as much as four at times in the opening set. And at one point had set point, but the Golden Eagles rattled off six points to take the first set 26-24. Dunn and Hindenburg finished set one with three kills apiece.
SET TWO
The Golden Eagles were dominate early opening up 11-7 lead, but UNO stayed diligent tying the game at 16. Taking the lead shortly after that, the Privateers opened their lead and eventually took the set 25-21. Schumacher and Grice combined for eight kills in set two.
SET THREE
The third set saw Tennessee Tech regain the lead 2-1 after taking the set 25-23. Hindenburg and Vega teamed up to total eight kills in the set. New Orleans had three service aces in the set two coming from Hindenburg.
SET FOUR
Looking to send the second game of the day to a decisive set five saw the Privateer recoil for a 25-23 set four win. UNO was down early but used a pair of runs. They used a 5-0 run to shrink the Golden Eagle lead to 13-12, and a 5-2 run to close the set and send the match to a decisive set five.
SET FIVE
The final set was a tail of two sides. Tennessee Tech was dominate as they took an 8-6 lead in the first half the set. But the Privateers battled back and tied the set at 10 and eventually took the lead and never looked back taking the fifth set 15-12.
NEXT UP
The Privateers conclude the Golden Eagle Invitational by taking on University of South Carolina Upstate at 4 p.m. The Spartans fell to Tennessee Tech Thursday afternoon 3-0.
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