Beach Privateers Split Final Road Tournament of Regular Season; Volpi and Vujnovich finish 2-0

FLORENCE, Al. - The New Orleans Beach Volleyball (15-13) program reached a split decision in the North Alabama Beach Invite after dropping a 4-1 match to the host school and defeating the Chattanooga Mocs 4-1 Saturday afternoon in Florence, Alabama.

Freshman Valentina Echeverri and junior Rita Zecchin opened the competition at court four giving the Lions their first point with a 22-20, 21-16. Junior Serena Baumgart and sophomore Ivana De Carvalho Peixe won the first set 21-17 at court five to push Kati Anderson and Sarah Larkin Lewis to a third set but it was not enough to take the match. The Lions clinched on court one with Paula Klemperer and Taylor Seney defeating senior Ania Esarte and freshman Maria Ozaeta in straight sets (21-17, 22-20). Despite a sealed victory for the Lions, junior Valerie Vujnovich and senior Hannah Volpi got the sole point for the Privateers in a three-set battle at court three (16-21, 21-19, 16-14). 

Against the Mocs, Echeverri and Zecchin rallied to a three-set win (23-21, 17-21, 17-15) at court four in response to the Mocs sole point at court five over Baumgart and Peixe to tie both teams at one. Jackson and Spartz secured their 20^th pair win of the season in straight sets at court two (21-16, 21-15). Esarte and Ozaeta clinched the match at court one in dominant fashion (21-12, 21-8). Vujnovich and Volpi added on a point to conclude a perfect day for the upperclassmen pair at court three (15-21, 21-16, 15-5). 

UP NEXT: The Privateers will conclude the regular season with the Privateer Beach Invitational April 13-14 at their very own Privateer Beach complex for the first time in school history. 

New Orleans will host Stephen F. Austin, University of Louisiana at Monroe and Southeastern. Opening serve is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday against SFA followed by a 3:30 p.m. match against ULM. On Friday, New Orleans will open against SFA at 11:30 a.m. followed by SLU at 3:30 p.m. Following the match against Southeastern, New Orleans will hold Senior Night festivities. Ania Esarte, Trinity Jackson, Alexa Spartz, and Hannah Volpi will all be honored for their accomplishments at the University of New Orleans. 

North Alabama 4, New Orleans 1
1. Paula Klemperer/Taylor Seney (UNA) def. Maria Ozaeta/Ania Esarte (UNO) 21-17, 22-20
2. Mackenzie Martin/Katy Floyd (UNA) def. Alexa Spartz/Trinity Jackson (UNO) 21-16, 21-19
3. Valerie Vujnovich/Hannah Volpi (UNO) def. Martha McLaurin/Selma Robinson (UNA) 16-21, 21-19, 16-14
4. Jelena Girod/Natalie Kordt (UNA) def. Valentina Echeverri/Rita Zecchin (UNO) 22-20, 21-16
5. Kati Anderson/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Serena Baumgart/I. De Carvalho Peixe (UNO) 17-21, 21-19, 16-14 
Ext. Renata Dykstra/Savannah Moberly (UNO) def. Abby Robertson/Caroline Conkle (UNA) 21-14, 17-21, 17-15
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,1,2,3)


New Orleans 4, Chattanooga 1
1. Ania Esarte/Maria Ozaeta (UNO) def. Neva Clark/McKenna Faychak (UTC) 21-12, 21-8
2. Trinity Jackson/Alexa Spartz (UNO) def. Joy Courtright/Maddie Lecik (UTC) 21-16, 21-15
3. Hannah Volpi/Valerie Vujnovich (UNO) def. Julia Davis/Madi Morris (UTC) 15-21, 21-16, 15-5
4. Valentina Echeverri/Rita Zecchin (UNO) def. Halle Olson/Grace Frigaard (UTC) 23-21, 17-21, 17-15
5. M. Myers-Osband/Kaye Gresham (UTC) def. Serena Baumgart/I. De Carvalho Peixe (UNO) 20-22, 21-19, 15-13
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,2,1,3)


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