JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The New Orleans Privateers volleyball team will open their 2024 regular season with three matches in the Gamecock Classic. The Privateers will play Division I newcomer, West Georgia and host, Jacksonville State on Friday. The weekend closes with a match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday at 12 p.m.
BROADCAST
Only the match against Jacksonville State will be broadcast on ESPN Plus. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
The Gamecock Classic will have two selections each for the top two teams. The remaining two teams will have one selection each.
PREVIEW
Ashley Preston is entering her fourth season at the helm of the Privateers who ended 2023 on a solid note. The Privateers finished the year by winning five of their last eight matches which included their first Southland Tournament victory in the opening round of the Southland Championship against UIW.
The Privateers bring back nine returners.
Courtney Roundtree and
Lani Alleman ranked inside the top 10 in the conference in hitting percentage and digs per set respectively. Roundtree hit .285 last season and .370 over the last 15 matches. Alleman racked up 278 total digs in her freshman season.
Buse Kocakaya finished last year with four matches of double digit kills out of her last nine appearances. That included 15 kills along with a season-high six blocks in the Southland tournament victory.
Also returning is
Molly Kehoe who will be in her fourth and final season and has 130 kills in 97 sets played.
Ryan Williams scored 184 points as a freshman last season.
Defne Eciroglu and
Vera Beltrame combined for over 800 assists in 2023.
Ava Kennon scored just over 2.0 points per set as a freshman.
Elani Ratchkovska registered 17 blocks in 24 sets.
New Orleans added eight newcomers to the squad this season. Coach Preston added depth at several different positions with a mix of incoming freshmen (4) and transfers (2 Div. I and 2 JUCO).
Dayla Ward and
Kaila Baker are both liberos who will contribute in the back row.
Alexis Belarmino adds depth at the setter position.
Jamiryana Hall,
Chelsea Daffin,
Divine Muo,
Akeir Scales and
Jaedyn Newman add attack options along the front row.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vs. West Georgia 0-2 (Last played in 2011)
Vs. Jacksonville St. 0-3 (Last played in 2019)
Vs. UAPB 4-0 (Last played in 2019)
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
West Georgia went 14-15 overall (8-8 in conference) in their final year in Division II as a member of the Gulf South Conference. The Wolves return their two All-Conference selections from last season in Zoe LaBreche and Sanai Young. Also returning is Desha Van Velhuizen who was seven-time Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week.
Jacksonville State transitioned from the Atlantic Sun to Conference USA in 2023. The Gamecocks finished the year on an eight-game losing streak. Jacksonville State played a four-set exhibition which they split 2-2 against Troy. Odessa College transfer, Kayla Williams led the Gamecocks with 13 kills.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff went 6-25 overall last season and 3-13 in SWAC play. Head Coach Gabrielle Floyd is in her third season at the helm after spending a decade previously at her alma mater, Texas Southern. Zykia Jones landed on the Preseason All-SWAC Team. Jones registered 279 kills, 261 digs and 31 service aces in 2023.
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.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersVB on Twitter/X,
@PrivateersVB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersVB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
