ATLANTA, Ga. – The New Orleans Privateers employed a relentless attack and a strong service game to key a 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-14) victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Saturday at the GSU Invitational.
The Privateers hit .409 for the match. It was the first time they crested .400 as a team in a match since 2015. It was also their highest attack percentage in a match since 2009 against ULM (.434).
HOW IT HAPPENED
New Orleans wasted little time in establishing the momentum. They went on a 6-0 run to break open the first set to a double-figure lead at 16-6.
Vera Beltrame stuck the Bulldogs in a rotation which was a common theme throughout the squad on the day.
In the second set, New Orleans did not have as easy of a time. South Carolina State led at one point 12-11 but a 6-0 Privateer spurt fueled by two
Chandler Lee kills gave New Orleans the separation they needed to see out the remainder of the set.
New Orleans kept their foot on the gas pedal early in the third set to establish an 8-3 lead. Back-to-back kills by
Karen Cordero Barr drove the early run that New Orleans kept building upon. The Privateers finished with a flourish as they hit .615 in the third set with 18 kills and two errors in 26 attempts.
The Privateers also limited South Carolina State to a .163 attack percentage in the victory.
The win was also the first for assistant coaches, Tamia Dockery and
Mauri Carver.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Cordero was named All-Tournament for her performance on the weekend. She had 32 kills, 19 digs and four service aces during the opening weekend.
INSIDE THE BOX
Ryan Williams and
Ava Kennon both reached the .500 mark in attack percentage. Williams hit .529 with 11 kills while Kennon hit .500 with seven kills.
Sydney Gott added nine kills while Cordero finished with nine kills and seven digs.
Vera Beltrame added a team-high 12 digs along with 18 assists.
Claire Turner added 17 assists and
Tatiana Mercer contributed 10 digs.
The Bulldogs were led by Eleisha Thompson who had nine kills and McKinley Roach who added eight kills.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will participate in the Bellarmine Volleyball Classic next Friday and Saturday against Bellarmine, Murray State and Southern Indiana.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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@PrivateersVB on Twitter,
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