NEW ORLEANS – For the second time in as many days the University of New Orleans (3-4) needed five sets to complete the victory against USC-Upstate (0-6) Saturday afternoon at the Hopper Eblin Center.
The Privateers move to 2-1 in matches that go five sets.
Four Privateers recorded 10+ kills in the match lead by
Kaitlyn Grice with 15 and four blocks and three service aces.
Blessing Dunn collected a double-double (third this year) with 12 kills to go along with her 16 digs (one shy of 1,000).
Lane Hindenburg tallied 11 kills with seven blocks. And
Brianna Vega pitched in with 11 kills as well as four service aces.
Sarah Thomas also had a double-double (second this season) in the match with 43 assists and 10 digs.
Samantha Uline had a good day serving collecting three aces on the day.
SET ONE
The opening set was competitive for the start as the teams traded points. But the Spartans distanced themselves late in the set using a five to two run to take the first set.
SET TWO
New Orleans saw itself down early in the set but made the set close at 10-9 using a four to zero run. Moments later, the Privateers regained lead at 16-15 using a three to zero run. The Blue and Silver would extend its lead to 21-17 highlighted back-to-back aces by Vega before eventually taking the set 25-20 evening things up. As Dunn led the way with five kills in the set and Vega added four service aces.
SET THREE
The Spartans were dominate in the set from the get-go, jumping out to a 6-2 in the early going. UNO used a five to two run to bring the Upstate lead to two, but the Privateers could get no closer as visitors took set No. 3 25-19.
SET FOUR
USC-Upstate set the tone early opening up a 12-9 lead, but the Privateers rattled off six straight points highlighted by a pair of aces from Uline making it 15-13. Shortly after that the Spartans would make it a one-point set, but that is as close as they could get as the Privateers sent the match to set five taking set No. 4 25-20.
SET FIVE
The fifth set was all New Orleans as they scored seven of the first ten points of the set, and never let the Spartans closer than two points winning the set 15-8
NEXT UP
The Privateers return to the Human Performance Center September 7-8, as they will play host to Jackson State, Morgan State, Prairie View A&M, and Bethune Cookman in the New Orleans Invitational.
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