MONROE, La. – The New Orleans Privateers beach volleyball team went 2-0 on the day with a dominating win over Mary Hardin-Baylor to start the day. The Privateers then outlasted Southeastern 3-2 to close the first day of the ULM Beach Invitational.
NEW ORLEANS-5 MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR-0
It was a clinical start to the day for New Orleans who took four of the five matches in straight sets against Mary Hardin-Baylor to start the day. The only match that went to three sets was at flight five.
Valerie Vujnovich and
Liz Gialanella were narrowly leading at 11-10 when they scored four of the next six points to wrap up the final set and the match in their favor. From there, the rest of the lineup was dominant.
Three sets were finished with Mary Hardin-Baylor being held under 10 points (one each at flight one, three and four).
Lucie Pokorna and
Ania Esarte scored a convincing 21-10, 21-6 victory at flight one.
Trinity Jackson and
Alexa Spartz only conceded 18 total points between two sets in a 21-10, 21-8 victory at flight three.
NEW ORLEANS-3 SOUTHEASTERN-2
It was another battle down to the wire but the Privateers were unflappable, defeating the Lions for the second time this season by the narrowest of margins.
Southeastern's pairs at flight four and five both took their matches in straight sets putting the pressure on the Privateers to sweep the remaining matches, which they did to come from behind and grab the win.
Spartz and Jackson were again dominant as this time they only allowed 14 total points over the two sets in a 21-7, 21-7 victory.
The remaining two matches were nail biters that went to third sets. Pokorna and Esarte had to fight back from down a set but they controlled the early going of the third set racing out to a 7-3 lead before finishing up with a 15-10 win.
At flight two,
Maxine Walsh and
Hannah Volpi were taken to extra rallies. The duo took the second set after dropping the first 21-17. In the match decider, it was close throughout as the two sides went back and forth. However, Walsh and Volpi prevailed winning the third set 16-14 to conclude a two-win day.
NEXT UP
The tournament concludes on Saturday with matches against ULM (9 a.m.) and Central Arkansas (1 p.m.).
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