LAFAYETTE, La. – The New Orleans Privateers relied on stellar defense and a balanced attack as they notched a 3-0 (25-19, 32-30, 25-12) victory over the Texas Southern Tigers on the second day of the Sawyer Camillo Classic.
New Orleans held the Tigers to just an .042 attack percentage and had eight more kills on the day (39 to Texas Southern’s 31). The Privateers also had eight blocks as a team on the afternoon.
What was a tight first set was opened up when leading 14-12, the Privateers scored 10 of the next 14 points in the match. That onslaught was keyed by Akeir Scales who had three of her seven total blocks in the match during that run. The Privateers eventually capped the set on a Texas Southern service error.
New Orleans looked to be in cruise control in the second set as they led by as many as eight points with their largest lead at 13-5. However, the Tigers chipped away and forced extra rallies after saving a set point on a kill by Morgyn McQueen.
Once in extra rallies, each side saved three set points as the score went into the 30s on both sides. The Privateers persevered to end the second set in their favor on a Courtney Roundtree kill.
That momentum carried the Privateers through a strong third set as the Privateers hit .321 as a team with 11 kills to just two attack errors in 28 attempts. New Orleans also notched two of their five service aces on the match in the third set.
With the win, the Privateers improve to 6-1 all-time against Texas Southern.
INSIDE THE BOX
Laura Piva led the Privateer offense with 10 kills. Alessandra Meoni added eight kills while Roundtree and Vanae Sapp each posted six kills. Ella Moss (16) and Peyton Cole (12) both landed in double figures in digs. Celia Mbaya had nine digs. Defne Eciroglu finished with 20 assists and Rylie Hallman had 18 assists.
NEXT UP
The Privateers finish their opening weekend against host, Louisiana on Sunday at 1 p.m.