TAMPA, Fla. –
Brianna Vega,
Blessing Dunn and
Kaitlyn Grice combined for 37 kills, but it was not enough as the University of New Orleans (6-8) fell to North Dakota (8-7) 24-26, 25,20, 21-25, and 17-25 Saturday morning at the Yuengling Center.
Rhyan Rand was also named to the All-Tournament team after the match. Rand finished the Classic with 16 kills, a .441 hitting percentage, 12 digs, and five blocks.
HOW IT HAPPEND
SET ONE
The opening stanza was a tight one, as the teams traded leads four times and where tied nine times during the set. But the Fighting Hawks would take the first set 26-24 on a service ace and kill.
SET TWO
The Privateers took an early 9-5 lead in the set using a 4-0 run to force a UND timeout. Later in the set UNO extended its lead to 23-19 after a Grice kill and an ace from Dunn. New Orleans would later take the set 25-20. Vega finished the set with five kills and
Sarah Thomas had 10 assists.
SET THREE
North Dakota had leads as much as four in the set and the Privateers could not get any closer than that. As UND took a 2-1 lead with a 25-21 set for win.
SET FOUR
North Dakota would clinch the win with a 25-17 set four win. Rand finished the set with six kills and Dunn chipped in four.
INSIDE THE BOX
The Privateers had three players record a 10+ kill match - Dunn (14), Vega (13), and Rand (10). Dunn also had four service aces and 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the year. Grice added nine kills and a block. Thomas continues to add to her assist count finishing with 40 in the match.
NEXT UP
The Privateers open up Southland Conference play with a pair of matches in the Lone Star State when they face Houston Baptist Thursday September 20 at 7 p.m. Then UNO travels to Texas A&M Corpus Christi Friday September 21 at 1 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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