Spartz Makes History with Most Wins in School History, Privateers Fall to Southern Miss and #5 LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. - The New Orleans beach volleyball program dropped a pair of matches to Southern Miss (2-3) and #5 LSU (0-5) in the opening day of the Tiger Beach Invitational in Baton Rouge Saturday. Highlighting the day was senior Alexa Spartz earning her 61st win at court two to break the record for most wins in Privateer history. Spartz has also played the most games in school history at 108. She surpasses Veronica Corcoran who had 60 wins and played 107 games during her 2017-21 career.

Facing the Golden Eagles for the first time, the Privateers (11-9) got off to a slow start with the exception of Hannah Volpi and Valerie Vujnovich at court three. Down 2-0, The upperclassmen duo gave New Orleans its first point in a two-set win. However, the Golden Eagles clinched the match with a win at court one. Adding the final point was Spartz and Trinity Jackson at court two in a three-set victory.

In the final match of the day against #5 LSU, the Tigers swept the Privateers 5-0. Valentina Echeverri and Rita Zecchin pushed the Tigers to a 22-20 win at court five in their first time as a pair. Top pair Ania Esarte and Maria Ozaeta also neared a victory in the second set but fell short at 21-19. 

UP NEXT:
New Orleans will face #12 Washington in day two of the Tiger Beach Invitational at 9 a.m. followed by a Southland Conference matchup against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at noon.