COVINGTON, La. – The University of New Orleans begins its 2019 season with the New Orleans Invitational Friday and Saturday at Digs Volleyball Complex. The Privateers are scheduled to begin the two-day tournament at 9 a.m. Friday versus first-year program Nicholls State University and UNO will take on another first-year program, the University of Southern Mississippi (0-3) are 3 p.m.
Also participating in the tournament are Huntingdon College (0-4) and Spring Hill College (3-0), New Orleans' opponents on Saturday (11 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively).
HEAR FROM COACH
"I'm very pleased with our training leading up to the season," said head coach
Millicent Van Norden. "Our team is more experienced, and we are excited to get the 2019 campaign started. We are looking forward to hosting a competitive tournament."
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Privateers have nine student-athletes returning from a 2018 season that featured eight victories.
Rachel Kuhn and
Veronica Corcoran paced the club with 12 wins apiece,
Brianna Vega followed with 10,
Ally Carr posted nine and
Victoria Corcoran finished with eight wins, four at No. 1.
Madison Miller,
Blessing Dunn,
Rhyan Rand and
Maxine Walsh also posted four or more victories.
Last season, New Orleans defeated Houston Baptist University 3-2 on the Digs Volleyball Complex courts. Vega and Miller began 2018 4-1 overall with all four wins coming at the site of this weekend's tournament.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
NICHOLLS
Entering its inaugural season, the Colonels are led by Kallie Noble, who was named indoor and beach coach in mid-January. Nicholls will not host a home match this season and Friday will be the first three meetings between NSU and UNO.
SOUTHERN MISS
The Golden Eagles began their inaugural season last week, going 0-3 at the tournament hosted by Spring Hill. Two of the losses came to Coastal Carolina. Entering the season, Kylie Grandy was named to the 2019 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Beach Volleyball Watch List. She finished her indoor season second all-time in career kills by a Golden Eagle with 1,572. Cyan Blackdeer and Abbey Wilson picked up a win at No. 2 and Kellie Garraway and Piper Matsumoto earned a victory at No. 3.
HUNTINGDON
The Hawks are 0-4 on the young season after falling in the UAB Invite in Birmingham last weekend. Lexie DeVuyst and Amy Tyma defeated Jacksonville State at No. 3 21-13, 18-21, 15-13 and April Reese and Alexis Creasman earned a win at No. 5 21-14, 23-21.
New Orleans is 1-0 against the Hawks, having defeated Huntingdon March 11, 2017 at the Badger Beach Bash 5-0.
SPRING HILL
The Badgers are 3-0 on the year with two wins versus Coastal Carolina and one against Southern Miss. Spring Hill began the season hosting the Badger Beach Bash in Mobile. SHC defeated UNO twice last season in close matches (3-2 in both) and leads the series vs. New Orleans 9-1.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersBeach on Twitter,
@PrivateersBeach on Instagram, like
/PrivateersVolleyball on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
