NEW ORLEANS, La.- The New Orleans Beach Volleyball Program closed out the regular season with a 4-1 win over SFA and a 4-1 loss to Southeastern on day two of the Privateer Beach Invitational Friday. Senior duo
Trinity Jackson and
Alexa Spartz had an undefeated weekend with wins over SFA, ULM, and they were lone pair to take Southeastern. They finished the season with a team best 24-7 record. The Privateers currently rank 4th going into the Southland Conference Championships.
Seniors
Rita Zecchin,
Trinity Jackson, Valerie Vunovich,
Ania Esarte, and
Alexa Spartz were all honored during Senior Day.
Rita Zecchin, from Padova, Italy, in her sole season with the Privateer Beach squad, recorded seven wins. She was also a member of the Privateers indoor volleyball team.
From Colorado Springs, Colorado, Trinity Jackson doubles as an integral piece of the indoor volleyball team as well. Jackson has 59 wins in her four seasons with Privateer beach and 44 wins when paired with teammate Alexa Spartz. Her 59 wins ranks 3rd in program history. This season, Jackson and Spartz have a team best 24-7 record. Last season, she was a first team all-conference selection at the No. 3 position along with Spartz. Jackson also landed a spot on the 2022 Southland All-academic team. She is joined by her parents Kevin and Robin Jackson. Let's hear it for Trinity Jackson.
Valerie Vunovich, from Belle Chasse, Louisiana, is one of two team captains. In her two seasons on the beach, Val quickly became a role player for New Orleans at court three. She has 28 career wins with 18 this year alongside her partner Hannah Volpi.
Ania Esarte, a Madrid, Spain, native, in her two seasons as a Privateer, has totaled 46 wins at court one. With a 27-6 record in the 2022 season, she holds the record for most wins in a single season in Privateer history. Her 46 career wins places 7th in most career wins in program history. Last season, she was first team all-conference, and the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. She was also one half of the league's 2022 Pair of the Year.
Alexa Spartz, a Glendale, Arizona, native, with 69 wins in her five seasons as a Privateer, holds the record for most wins in program history. She has also played the most games in program history at 121. Last season, Spartz was named first team all-Southland conference and first team all-academic. Spartz is a vocal leader on and off the court as she is also the Student Athlete advisory committee president. Spartz, alongside her teammate, leads the Privateers with a 23-7 record this season.
Against SFA, the Privateers put thw first point on the board with the help of freshman
Valentina Echeverri and senior
Rita Zecchin at court four winning in straight sets (21-18, 22-20). The Ladyjacks answered on court five as Sophia Myers and Rylee Erwin defeated juniors
Serena Baumgart and Ivana de Carvahlo Piexe 21-19, 21-13 to tie the match at one point. The second wave of pairs took control for the Privateers defeated the LadyJacks at courts three, two, and one in straight sets. Seniors Valerie Vunovich and
Hannah Volpi put the Privateers in the lead again with a 21-18, 21-14 decision before Jackson and Spartz clinched the match at court two 21-12, 21-15. Senior
Ania Esarte and freshman Maria Ozeata tacked on a point with a 21-18 decision to win both sets.
Wrapping up the regular season against local foe Southeastern, the Privateers went to three sets at courts four and five but did not get the favorable outcome putting the Lions up early 2-0. Vunovich and Volpi also went to three with the first two sets being close calls. They dropped the first set 23-21 and took the second 24-22, but could not finish the job in a 15-8 deciding set which clinched the match for Southeastern. Jackson and Spartz won the lone match for the Privateers in straight sets at court two (21-10, 21-14). The Lions added another point at court one with a win over top pair Esarte and Ozaeta.
UP NEXT: New Orleans will take on No. 5 Southeastern in the first round of the 2023 Southland Beach Volleyball Championship Friday, April 21st in Corpus Christi, Texas. Opening serve is set for 12 p.m. The winner of the match will face No.1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 2:30 p.m.
