NEW ORLEANS – Blessing Dunn became the first player since 2015 (
Lauren Levy) to reach 1,000 career digs in a Privateer uniform and
Kyra Hunter followed with 11 kills on 15 attempts in the University of New Orleans' (5-4) sweep of Bethune-Cookman University (2-5) and Prairie View A&M University (0-8) Friday in the Human Performance Center.
Day one of the New Orleans Invitational featured UNO hit .288 in the 25-21, 25-16, 25-23 victory over BC and .322 in the 25-17, 25-17, 25-14 win over the Panthers.
NEW ORLEANS DEFEATED BETHUNE-COOKMAN 3-0
FIRST SET
With family and friends displaying congratulations banners, Dunn began the match with a dig – her 1,000 of the Privateer career. New Orleans escaped the opening set with a 25-21 win behind Dunn's and Vega's eight kills (four apiece). Dunn added two aces and four digs.
Lane Hindenberg and
Nela Grau collected an ace in the stanza.
Ehize Omoghibo was 3-of-6 in the No. 1 win
SECOND SET
It was all New Orleans as four blocks, five kills by Dunn and
Amanda Wurster's collegiate debut featured two aces, two digs and a kill.
Kaitlyn Grice and Hunter went into set No. 3 with three assisted blocks and Omoghibo and Hindenburg added two.
In the second set, UNO hit .333 en route to a 25-16 win and 2-0 edge in the match.
THIRD SET
The Privateers cruised to a 19-12 lead but Bethune-Cookman rallied back to make it a two-point lead. In a storybook moment, Dunn capped the 3-0 win with a rousing kill to give New Orleans a 25-23 win in set No. 3.
INSIDE THE BOX
Dunn and Omoghibo led the club with 11 kills and hit .364 and .500, respectively.
Sarah Thomas posted a match-high 19 assists.
Brianna Vega and
Samantha Uline combined for 20 digs and Hunter finished with five blocks, followed by Grice's four and Hindenburg's three.
For the Wildcats, Sterling Williamson led the way with 12 kills and Jordan Jefferson posted a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.
NEW ORLEANS DEFEATED PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 3-0\
PHOTO GALLERY
SET ONE
New Orleans took a 18-10 lead behind back-to-back-to-back assisted blocks and a Wurster service ace. Omoghibo's kill gave UNO a 1-0 lead with the 25-17 opening set W. Illinois' own Omoghibo and Hindenburg collected three kills apiece and the duo totaled seven blocks (one solo, six assisted).
SET TWO
Sparked by a 4-0 run, volleyball led 18-11 and extended it to 23-15 with Grice's and
Kyra Hunter's kills ended the set 25-17 in favor of UNO. Offensively, the club hit .407.
SET THREE
Hunter continued to dominate and offensively, the balanced attack was too much for Prairie View A&M in the win.
INSIDE THE BOX
Hunter's 11 kills were the most since October 28 versus Lamar University. The lefty went 11-of-15. Omoghibo added eight kills and four blocks, Hindenburg, Grice and Dunn added six apiece and the Privateers finished with 9.0 total blocks.
NEXT UP
New Orleans continues the UNO Invite tomorrow versus Jackson State University and Morgan State University.
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