NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers will begin the penultimate week of the regular season at home on Thursday when they host the UIW Cardinals. The Privateers will then host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Saturday. The matches will begin at 6:30 and 1 p.m. respectively.
Both matches will be carried on ESPN Plus.
KIDS DAY
Saturday will feature a Kids Day promotion. There will be a post-match autograph session with kids, an opportunity to win a free Canes gift card and free beads.
PREVIEW
New Orleans went 1-2 in three matches last week with a victory over Texas A&M-Commerce. The Privateers held the Lions to a .139 attack percentage, the second lowest by an opponent this season. They held Lamar to an .054 attack percentage on Sept. 30.
Courtney Roundtree had a phenomenal and efficient week with 31 kills over three matches. That included a career-best 17 against Texas A&M-Commerce. Roundtree also hit .500 for the week and has seven matches where she has hit .350 or better this season.
Karen Cordero Barr has moved up to a tie for fifth in kills per set at 3.14. Cordero had the first match of 20-plus kills and digs by a Privateer since 2009 in last Thursday's win against Texas A&M-Commerce. The graduate student is also sixth in the Southland in total points per set at 3.55.
The Privateers are looking to take another step toward sealing up a spot in the Southland Tournament. They are currently the eighth and final seed in the tournament and have a two-game lead over both Lamar and Nicholls with four matches remaining.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
UIW is locked into the tournament and currently sits in a tie for sixth place with Texas A&M-Commerce. The Cardinals beat the Privateers in San Antonio earlier this season. Their most recent match was a 3-0 victory against Lamar last Saturday. Natalie Kimmel and Anuhea Faitau are first and third respectively in the conference in service aces. Annamarie Alvarez is hitting .413 to lead the Southland in that department.
The Islanders are locked in a fierce battle with Southeastern for the regular season championship with both teams sporting a 13-1 record. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has won 12 matches in a row and has only lost five sets in that stretch. As a team, the Islanders are top three in the Southland in every statistical category except blocks. Kyndal Payne ranks first in the conference in kills (3.98) while Leah Stolfus is second in hitting percentage (.380).
WE ARE YOUR KREWE
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests. Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win. Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day. Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe!
Visit UNOPrivateers.com/signup to stay connected and follow us @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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