NEW ORLEANS, La- The New Orleans Beach Volleyball Program welcomes three teams as part of the Privateer Beach Invitational this Thursday and Friday, including a Southland Conference foe, at the new Privateer Beach facility located between Lakefront Arena and Maestri Field. The first 25 Privateer fans to arrive to Thursday's matches will receive a free water bottle. On Friday, we will honor our five 2023 beach volleyball seniors:
Ania Esarte,
Trinity Jackson,
Alexa Spartz,
Valerie Vujnovich, and
Rita Zecchin.
"We are looking forward to hosting our home tournament at our new facility this weekend. We've hosted tournaments in the past, but they have been at local complexes, so to be hosting at our own Privateer Beach is amazing," said Head Coach
Amy Blanke.
"With it being our Senior Night as well, it makes this even more special because they get to compete in front of their family, friends, and fellow privateer athletes. I believe this is the best way to honor our Seniors, and to honor the legacy that they will be leaving for our current and future team."
The Privateers (16-13, 6-3 SLC), are looking to conclude the regular season on a high note and in their best form of the season ahead of next weekend's Southland Conference Championship Tournament in Corpus Christi. New Orleans will play four matches against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana at Monroe, and Southeastern over two days.
The team comes off a road split at the North Alabama Invitational where they dropped a match to the host school while defeating UT Chattanooga 4-1.
SFA (6-15) look to extend a four-match winning streak, having defeated UCA, Spring Hill College, and Hendrix College at the ULM invitational. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
ULM (26-2) enter this weekend's action coming off of a 4-0 weekend at the ULM invitational with wins over UCA, SFA, Spring Hill, and Hendrix College. The Privateers got a glimpse of the Warhawks earlier in the season in a 3-2 loss.
SLU (7-18) is coming off of a 1-3 week at the Carolina Challenge, defeating Erskine to end day one and taking both Coastal Carolina and Charleston, who received votes in the AVCA Beach Coaches Poll, to the limit on day two but ultimately fell in both matches.
Thursday's action will begin with New Orleans taking on SFA at 11:30 a.m. followed by a 3:30 p.m. matchup against ULM. The Privateers will open day two against SFA again at 11:30 a.m. and conclude the day against Southeastern at 3:30 p.m. The match against the Lions will be followed by the senior recognition ceremony.
At 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Southeastern will take on ULM. The Lions will then face SFA at 2:00 p.m. Friday's first match of the day will also kick off at 10:00 a.m. and will see SFA take on ULM. ULM will face the Lions again at 2:00 p.m.
New Orleans Athletics is committed to providing a safe environment for all fans in accordance with the state, city, and university's health and safety protocols. New Orleans Athletics also reserves the right to conduct bag checks upon entrance to the facility.
- Entrance to Privateer Beach can be accessed from Press Drive.
- Parking is available in front of Privateer Beach and at Maestri Field.
- Admission to the Privateer Beach Invitational is free of charge.
- No outside food is permitted.
- Pets are permitted in the green space outside of the Privateer Beach facility.
- Concessions will be available for purchase.
- The facility is open seating however fans are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and seating.
- The University of New Orleans is a tobacco free environment.
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersBeach on Twitter, @PrivateersBeach on Instagram, like /PrivateersBeach on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
