NEW ORLEANS – On a night where
Andrea Nava was honored for reaching the 1,00-dig milestone, the New Orleans Privateers (4-5) turned away a Mercer Bears (4-5) rally in a 3-2 victory (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 15-8) on Friday at the Human Performance Center.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Brianna Vega led the team with 15 kills and added eight digs. She also had five block assists.
Chloe Hampton posted 10 kills and two blocks.
Rhyan Rand and
Lucie Pokorna each adaded eight kills. Rand also had five of the team's 10 service aces.
Andrea Nava had 10 digs.
FIRST SET
The Privateers came out on fire to open up a 14-7 advantage. Mercer got to within three points late on in the set, but New Orleans held firm thanks to kills from four different Privateers. New Orleans hit .346 as a unit and never trailed.
SECOND SET
In an even set that featured 15 ties and four lead changes, New Orleans again persevered this time with the score tight throughout. Neither team led by more than two points throughout the set. Vega had a kill to bring about set point.
Ehize Omoghibo then finished off the set to push the Privateers to a commanding 2-0 lead.
THIRD SET
Mercer started their comeback trail after breaking a 10-10 tie in emphatic fashion. The Bears scored seven of the next nine points to open up a five-point advantage. The Bears continued to add to their lead and had set point at 24-17. Rand was able to stave off the set momentarily with a couple of service aces, but an Annie Karle kill closed the set in Mercer's favor.
FOURTH SET
The Privateers got a service ace from
Amanda Wurster to push their set lead to 10-8. However, Mercer stormed in front with two kills from Karle and a kill each from Alexia Morey and Brittany Major. The Bears steadily pulled away in a set where they had 18 kills and hit .371.
FIFTH SET
The deciding set saw the first eight points divided evenly. Then the Privateers behind the serving of Vega (two aces) and two blocks, pulled to an 11-5 lead. Mercer had two service errors which brought the Privateers closer to match point at 13-7. The match was eventually ended on a Mercer attack error in what was the first five-set match of the season for New Orleans.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will close their second New Orleans Invitational on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Southern.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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