NEW ORLEANS – As the regular season winds down, the battle for the Southland regular season title continues to heat up. The New Orleans Privateers (13-10, 7-4) will have two crucial matches against Southeastern on Thursday and McNeese on Saturday.
The Privateers travel to Hammond to face the Lady Lions at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, New Orleans welcomes McNeese to the Human Performance Center at 1 p.m.
CROWDED AT THE TOP
Five teams are within a game of each other in the standings. McNeese and HCU are level at 8-3 in conference play. New Orleans, Southeastern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are all 7-4 heading into the week.
PREVIEW
Sheilah Purcell is in the top 100 in digs per set heading into the week. Purcell ranks 79
th in the nation at 4.36 digs per set and had 51 last week over two wins. For her career, Purcell is averaging 4.45 digs per set, just shy of the career record set by Nicky Valenti (4.46 digs per set).
Mauri Carver has recorded a solo block in 18 of 23 matches this season. Carver had six solo blocks over two matches last week and her 34 solo blocks rank first in the Southland. For the season, Carver ranks eighth in the Southland in blocks per set.
New Orleans defeated Southeastern in three sets the first time the two sides hooked up. It was one of only three times the Lady Lions were swept this season. The Privateers hit .316, their second best attack percentage in a match this season.
The Privateers lost in three sets to McNeese in the first meeting. The Cowgirls held New Orleans to 49 points. Sanni Rantanen led the way in kills for McNeese with 13.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Southeastern (17-6, 7-4) is also unblemished at home with a 9-0 mark. In those matches, the Lady Lions have lost just three sets in total. Southeastern is second in the league in team hitting percentage (.225) and has allowed the fewest total opponent aces in the Southland.
McNeese (12-13, 8-3) paces the field in blocking among conference foes at 2.38 per set. Rantanen, Kendall Glueck and McKenzie Moore are all in the top 10 in the league in blocks per set. The Cowgirls have won four consecutive matches heading into the week.
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