New Orleans Beach Volleyball Set to Begin Season at Green Wave Invitational

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Beach Volleyball 2023 season will commence at the Green Wave Invitational where the Privateers will play four matches over the course of this Saturday and Sunday. The invitational will be held at White Sands Beach Volleyball Courts.

Among the four teams are Nicholls, Tulane, North Alabama, and a No. 5 ranked LSU.

The Privateers will face Nicholls Saturday at noon followed by a matchup against Tulane at 3 p.m. The Privateers continue their action Sunday afternoon with matches against North Alabama at noon CT and against LSU at 2:45 p.m.

Nicholls went 1-25 last season. This will be their third full season since the program started in 2019.

The Green Wave finished the 2022 season with a 24-13 record including going 10-1 in home matches.


North Alabama finished last season with a program record of 16-14 and will begin the season under new Head Coach Kaleb VanDePerre.

The Privateers fell 4-1 to the Tigers last year at the Tiger Beach Challenge with Ania Esarte and Lucie Pokorna getting a win at flight one.

New Orleans returns a handful of familiar faces to the sand with lineup experience. The return of seniors Alexa Spartz and Trinity Jackson gives the team leadership to fall back on. 2022 Southland Newcomer of the Year Ania Esarte also looks to improve upon the immediate impact she made to the team last year. 

Other Privateers including Valerie Vujnovich, Ivana de Carvalho Peixe, and Sarah Baumgart were also huge contributors to the team's success last year and look to do more. 

New Orleans Indoor Volleyball transfers Valentina Echeverri, Sydney Gott and Rita Zecchin will have the opportunity for lineup action this season. Rita Zecchin led the indoor team and ranked in the top 10 in the Southland in aces per set. 

With lineup spots to fill this season, freshman additions of Maria Ozeata, Renata Dykstra, and Savannah Moberly will also have the opportunity to compete.