NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team looks to continue to ride the wave of momentum into a road week when they travel to Lamar on Thursday and HCU on Saturday. The matches are set for start times of 6:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. respectively.
The Privateers have won four of their last five to move to 5-2 in conference and 11-8 overall. Currently, New Orleans sits in a tie for second in the Southland standings, one match behind the HCU Huskies (6-1).
On Monday, the Privateers swept the conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards for the first time since joining the Southland in 2013.
Sheilah Purcell took Defensive honors while
Sophia Ewalefo snagged Offensive honors for the second time this season.
A big part of the Privateers' surge has been the defense. A look inside the numbers reveals the Privateers are averaging over 2.0 blocks per set (32 total in 15 sets) in their last four wins. Also, New Orleans' defense has held opponents to a .158 attack percentage in that same stretch of matches.
Mauri Carver vaulted into the top 10 in blocks per set after posting 10 total last week. Carver's 28 solo blocks also lead the Southland heading into the week. On the season, Carver is averaging 1.01 blocks per set.
New Orleans will have their fourth and final regular season meeting against Lamar after defeating them in three sets last Saturday at the HPC. The Privateers are just 2-12 against HCU and last won in Houston in 2018.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Lamar is still searching for their first Southland win of the season. Paige Dugan is one of seven Southland players averaging over 3.0 kills per set. Tytiana Johnson is 10
th in the league in blocks per set.
The Huskies are the most efficient offense by attack percentage in the Southland. They have hit .240 as a team. They have also allowed the fewest kills per set of any conference school (11.2). Jada Allen, Anna Gadway and Audrey Pearce are all in the top 10 in the league in hitting percentage.
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