NEW ORLEANS – It was a match that featured 40 ties and 17 lead changes but it was the Southern Jaguars who prevailed in a lengthy four-set affair 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 26-24, 31-29) on Saturday evening in the finale of the New Orleans Invitational.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Logan Jeffus (ULM)-MVP
Cameron Rogers (ULM)-Libero of the Tournament
Bailey Roberson (ULM)
Alissa Santoyo (SU)
Jordan Felix (SU)
Ava Kennon (UNO)
Courtney Roundtree (UNO)
The turning point in a wild affair was the big comeback by Southern at the end of the third set. Trailing 24-20, the Jaguars strung together six consecutive points. Three different Jaguars notched a kill in that span with the set winner coming from Janelle Pye-Blacknard to give Southern a 2-1 advantage heading into a fierce fourth set.
New Orleans was up against it as they trailed for most of the set. Down 21-15, the Privateers got serve back after a Jaguars service error. Then
Defne Eciroglu had two aces to trim the Jaguar lead to two points.
Eventually, the Privateers got to within a point down 24-23.
Molly Kehoe provided a key block that forced extra rallies. New Orleans had four different chances to win the set but were turned back each time. Kailee Deffebaugh came up with a block to seal the match and the first victory of the season for the Jaguars.
INSIDE THE BOX
Karen Cordero Barr produced a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Kehoe had 10 kills, six digs and two total blocks.
Courtney Roundtree added nine kills while
Ava Kennon chipped in with seven. Eciroglu (13) and
Lani Alleman (12) both went for double figures in digs. Eciroglu and
Claire Turner each had three service aces.
Southern had three in double figures in kills led by Elise Doomes' 18. Pye-Blacknard and Jordan Felix finished with 41 assists, 15 digs and 13 kills.
NEXT UP
The Privateers next play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic when they face Louisiana and Prairie View.
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