THIBODAUX, La. – The New Orleans Privateers (15-14, 9-8) fought back from down four points in the final set to gut out a 3-2 (28-26, 21-25, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) win over the Nicholls Colonels on Thursday evening at Stopher Gymnasium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
New Orleans had to fight back from down 6-2 in the final set but ever resilient, the Privateers were unrattled.
Mauri Carver had two kills and a block to help the Privateers chip away at the lead.
After getting on level terms at 12-12,
Sophia Ewalefo's two consecutive kills gave the Privateers match points. Nicholls saved both to force extra rallies but Ewalefo came through again on a spirited rally to finish the night.
A hotly contested first set saw very little separation and the score tied on 15 different occasions. New Orleans finally put away a stubborn Colonels squad who had managed to save four set points leading up to the eventual clincher.
Lauren Harrell had a solo block from the right side to seal the first set in the Privateers' favor, a set that no team led by more than three at any point.
Nicholls came back from a 13-10 deficit with a 6-1 spurt of their own. The Colonels were able to see out the rest of the set as they hit .368 with four more kills than the Privateers who hit .324 in the set. The Colonels also had three blocks in the set.
New Orleans had three fewer attack errors in the third set as they went ahead 2-1 in the match. The Privateers rode an early wave to a 5-1 lead but Nicholls came roaring back with a 10-4 run of their own.
A four-point spurt by the Privateers though was the big difference as they broke an 18-18 tie with that run to help seal the set.
Nicholls ran to a 16-7 lead but the Privateers put together some big service rotations and had four blocks to help trim the gap all the way down to one at 19-18. However, Nicholls held firm with kills from three different players over their last five points as they closed the set on a 5-1 run.
INSIDE THE BOX
Carver finished with 12 kills, hit .391 and added nine total blocks (two solo, seven assist). Ewalefo had 10 kills while
Trinity Jackson (11) and
Sydney Gott (10) also notched double figures in kills. Jackson also added 15 digs.
Sheilah Purcell posted 27 digs, meaning she is now 10 away from 1,000 in her career. Harrell finished with eight kills and four total blocks.
Claire Turner had 24 assists while
Kamryn Scroggins added 21 assists.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will close the regular season with Senior Day on Saturday against HCU. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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