NEW ORLEANS –
Sh'Diamond Holly racked up 13 total blocks, which was tied for the second most in a match in program history but the New Orleans Privateers fell short in an intense battle by a 3-1 score to the HBU Huskies on Thursday at the Human Performance Center.
BLOCK PARTY
Holly got the Privateers block energized early and often and tied Javonne Brooks for the second most blocks in a match in program history. Holly was in on 13 of the Privateers' season-high 20 blocks. Holly easily eclipsed her previous career high of eight blocks which was achieved in September 2019.
HOW IT HAPPENED
New Orleans fended off three HBU set points in the opening set to force extra rallies. The third set point saved was when Holly recorded a block to tie the set at 24-24. HBU eventually prevailed in the set on Anna Gadway's sixth kill.
New Orleans hit .306 in the second set with 14 kills to just three attack errors while holding the Huskies to a .182 attack percentage. The Privateers led throughout most of the set and had an advantage as large as six points.
The momentum continued into the third set when the Privateers raced out to a 6-1 lead. HBU recovered and vaulted their way to a 20-15 edge. The Huskies had set point on their hands with four chances at it but New Orleans saved three on a service error and two subsequent blocks. The Huskies came back with a kill from Mikayla Vivens to close out the set.
The Privateers climbed back from down as many as five points in the fourth set to level the score at 22-22. But the Huskies came back with a quick flurry of three points on kills by Gadway and Vivens. An attack error on the Privateers sealed HBU's 10
th conference win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Atira Jells finished as the team leader in kills with 12. Holly had 11 kills to go along with her 13 blocks for her first double-double of the season.
Sheilah Purcell finished with a team-high 28 digs and
Trinity Jackson had 11 digs to go with eight kills.
Tara Goolsby had 30 assists and two service aces and
Kai Williams was in on eight blocks.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will face McNeese on Saturday at the HPC at 11 a.m.
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