NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers (6-6) will start Southland play with a Texas road swing this week. The Privateers will travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to face the Islanders (0-14). A Saturday bout against the UIW Cardinals (1-9) follows.
New Orleans is coming off a national season best performance. Their 17 blocks were the most in a three-set match this season, eclipsing four other teams who had previously set/tied the mark with 15 blocks. Also,
Sydney Gott tied the mark for most blocks by an individual in a three-set match this season with nine.
The Privateers have 85 service aces thus far on the year, most total in the Southland and 29
th in the nation. Individually,
Rita Zecchin has 19 service aces to pace the squad.
Zecchin along with
Kamryn Scroggins were named to the All-Tournament Team at the UTA Invitational. It was the second All-Tournament honor for Zecchin who also earned Libero of the Tournament at the New Orleans Invitational.
Mauri Carver's 0.98 blocks per set currently ranks in the top 10 in the Southland. Carver also has 13 solo blocks this season, most on the team.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Privateers are 1-13 against the Islanders and have not beaten them since the first meeting between the two sides in 2000.
Against UIW, the Privateers are 2-9 with both wins coming at home in 2017 and 2018. New Orleans is 0-3 against the Cardinals in San Antonio.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
The Islanders have not won a match on the season but they have also faced the 36
th most difficult schedule in the nation. That included matches against preseason No. 1 Nebraska, Pepperdine and Arizona among others.
Carissa Barnes is first in the conference and 32
nd in the nation in digs per set at 4.84. Barnes also ranks in the top 50 in total service aces with 50.
UIW's lone win of the season came in their opener when they defeated Texas Southern. They were defeated in all three matches of the Roadrunner Classic last weekend when they fell to UTSA, Valparaiso and HBU.
Allison Palmi has registered 3.03 kills per set, seventh most in the Southland. Jacqueline Arrington leads the team in blocks at 0.91 per set.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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