BVB: New Orleans receives Top 5 ranking and preseason Southland honors

NEW ORLEANS - Ahead of the season opener at the Green Wave Invitational this Friday, New Orleans beach volleyball secured the fourth spot in the 2024 Southland Preseason Poll, the league announced Thursday. Leading the list was Texas A&M Corpus Christi, followed by Boise State and HCU in the second and third positions, respectively. Head coaches and sports information directors from each school participated in the preseason poll but were not allowed to vote for their own school. The Players to Watch list was submitted by each school.

New Orleans earned three spots on the Southland Players to Watch list: Hannah Volpi, Maria Ozaeta, and Bria Garmon.

Volpi, entering her fifth season in New Orleans, was previously named a two-time Southland All-Conference player in 2022 and 2023. She emerged as a key player in New Orleans' journey to the SLC Championship semifinals last year, boasting a 19-13 record and a career record of 46-36.

Ozaeta returns after a stellar debut season with the Privateers, tallying 21 wins at the No. 1 position. The sophomore's impressive performance included finishing 37th overall with a 5-3 record in the 2023 AVCA Collegiate Beach Pairs National Championship in the fall.

Garmon, a senior new to the Lakefront, rejoins the SLC after her standout freshman year where she posted an 18-8 record. The 2021 First Team All-Conference selection and Central Arkansas transfer primarily competed in the No. 1 pair.

The 2024 season kicks off this weekend at Elmwood for the Green Wave Invitational, where New Orleans will face Spring Hill College and North Alabama on Friday, followed by matches against former SLC conference rival SFA and Oregon on Saturday. The Privateers' home opener will be the SLC mid-season invitational on March 22-24, with all eight teams participating.

FOLLOW US  
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersBeach on Twitter, @PrivateersBeach on Instagram, like /PrivateersBeach on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.

WE ARE YOUR KREWE  
For 54 seasons, Privateer student-athletes have had the unique experience of wearing New Orleans across their chests.  Like the city itself, our sports teams have been fueled by resiliency, grit, and the unquenchable desire to win.  Our city also houses the nation's biggest celebration each year. And much like a Mardi Gras parade krewe, we are tethered to our community through pride, tradition, a culture of acceptance, and finally our commitment to show that New Orleans is a world-class city to live, learn, play and work. We invite you to become more involved with the only University that truly represents New Orleans all day, every day.  Join #NOLAsTeam, We Are Your Krewe! Visit UNOPrivateers.com/signup to stay connected and follow us @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.