HOUSTON, Texas – The New Orleans Privateers took the UIW Cardinals right down to the wire but were ultimately eliminated in a five-set thriller by a 3-2 score in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.
FIFTH SET
The Privateers and Cardinals were locked in battle throughout a match that had little between the two sides. However, UIW spurted away with three consecutive points at the end of the set to finish off the match and advance.
Annamarie Alvarez sealed the match in favor of UIW with a kill. Nailah Landon also had a kill in the three-point burst that decided the match.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Atira Jells finished her season with another strong performance, posting a .433 attack percentage on 17 kills.
Trinity Jackson notched a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs.
Kai Williams finished with 15 kills while
Sh'Diamond Holly added 11.
Jells posted nine total blocks and the Privateers had 15 total blocks as a team on the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Privateers came out with great energy and parlayed that into an early 4-1 advantage. The set was tight at the outset but trailing 9-8, UIW went on a run of nine straight points and built a lead as big as nine at one point.
New Orleans had another rally though sparked by Jells' blocking at the net (six total) and the Privateers came back from a 19-10 deficit to force extra rallies. Jells and
Alexis Parrish combined on the block that scored the first set for the Privateers.
The match featured 21 ties and nine lead changes. Five ties came in the final set.
UIW held off the Privateers in the second set. The Cardinals had a burst to break open a 13-13 tie and push ahead to a lead as large as five.
New Orleans fired off a 17-9 stretch to begin the third set. The Cardinals came back to level the score and force extra rallies but the resilient Privateers came back with two points to end the set including kills from Jells and Jackson.
The fourth set saw the Privateers save three set points to cut a late UIW lead to 24-23. An attack error on New Orleans though finished off the set and ensured that the match wound up going the distance.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersVB on Twitter,
@PrivateersVB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersVB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
