COVINGTON, La. – The University of New Orleans (2-0) began 2019 with back-to-back wins, defeating Nicholls State University (0-2) 5-0 and the University of Southern Mississippi (1-4) 3-2 Friday at Digs Volleyball Complex.
The first day of the New Orleans Invitational featured wins in the top flight by Veronica Corcoran and Rachel Kuhn and 2-0 starts for Madison Miller and Rhyan Rand at No. 4, and Maxine Walsh and newcomer Alexa Spartz at No. 5.
 
NEW ORLEANS DEFEATS NICHOLLS 5-0
A quick 2-0 lead following a 21-3, 21-9 victory by Walsh/Spartz at No. 5 and a tough win at No. 4 by Miller/Rand put the Privateers in the driver's seat versus the Colonels.
 
Kuhn and Veronica Corcoran clinched the win for UNO over Nicholls as the duo dominated en route to a 21-3, 21-7 win over Emily Weimer and Jennifer Olivarez.
 
Ally Carr and Brianna Vega followed shortly thereafter with a 21-6, 21-8 victory at No. 3, while Victoria Corcoran and Blessing Dunn completed the sweep with a 21-13, 21-14 win at No. 2.
 
NEW ORLEANS DEFEATS SOUTHERN MISS 3-2
After an exhibition featured the debuts of Ehize Omoghibo and Raegan Rozas – 24-22, 21-15 – Walsh and Spartz rallied from a deficit to win in three sets 20-22, 21-18, 18-16. Miller and Rand did the same at No. 4 versus Olivia Hepworth and Breleigh Favre, erasing a 21-18 set one setback to win a close one 21-19, 17-15, for a 2-0 lead for UNO.
 
Kuhn and Veronica Corcoran won in straight sets to give the Privateers a 2-0 start to the season for the first time since the inception of beach volleyball (2015). The duo upended Kylie Grandy and Lindsey Legg 22-20, 21-15.
 
NEXT UP
The Privateers close out the New Orleans Invitational hosting Huntingdon College at 11 a.m. and Spring Hill College at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersBeach on Twitter, @PrivateersBeach on Instagram, like /PrivateersVolleyball on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
 
 
Tournament Central: https://unoprivateers.com/sports/2018/2/6/new-orleans-invitational.aspx
Match One Box: https://static.unoprivateers.com/custompages/stats/beachvolleyball/2019/uno01.htm
Match Two Box: https://static.unoprivateers.com/custompages/stats/beachvolleyball/2019/uno02.htm