NEW ORLEANS – The LSU New Orleans Privateers volleyball team will hit the court for the first time in their first of two exhibitions when they take on local foe, Xavier (La.) on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the Human Performance Center.
 
Ashley Preston enters her sixth season as head coach with a squad that features seven returning student-athletes and 11 newcomers. The Privateers return experience at most positions.
 
Defne Eciroglu enters her senior season with 1,601 assists which is eighth in program history. She had 713 assists in 2025. Joining her is Rylie Hallman who played in 19 matches last season while sharing the setting duties. Hallman had 209 assists in 2025.
 
Defensively, Peyton Cole shared the libero role last year and recorded 195 digs. Cole had eight matches with 10 or more digs including a season-best 18 against McNeese last season.
 
In the front row, the Privateers return Ania Anderson, Laura Piva, Ryan Williams and Elani Ratchkovska. The latter three are heading into their senior year. Williams and Ratchkovska have been with the program all four years. Piva scored 180 points last season and Anderson recorded 139.5 points in her freshman year in '25.
 
The incoming class is a mix of junior college transfers and freshmen which span the globe. Mariana Franco (Colombia) was First Team All-Region and All-Conference at Missouri State-West Plains.
 
Olivia Bartrina (Spain) was a second team JUCO All-American at her previous stop in Central Arizona. Vladana Ristic (Serbia) recorded 823 digs in two seasons at Eastern Wyoming. Karina Barzanova (Bulgaria) was part of a 21-win team at Navarro College last season.
 
Alana Pierce transfers in from Southern and made history at her high school (Captain Shreve) where she was the first Div. I volleyball commit in school history. Nyakuak Lual was second team all-region at North Platte CC and recorded 557 kills in two seasons.
 
The freshman class consists of five student-athletes: Ava Frerman, Mia Lopez, Derin Nur Aydin, Armie Hall and Ayen Nyuar.
 
Frerman and Lopez both prepped at local schools. Frerman was an all-state selection at Fontainebleau. Lopez had 1,300 digs while playing at Mt. Carmel.
 
Nur Aydin, Lual, Hall and Nyuar all stand at 6'0" or above and will add depth on the front row. Hall earned second team All-District in her senior season.
 
ABOUT LSU NEW ORLEANS
In July of 2026 the University of New Orleans rejoined the LSU system and rebranded to "LSU New Orleans" bringing together two powerful brands - the purple and gold of LSU with the unbreakable spirit of New Orleans. The transition marks a return to the LSU family for the University - a place it called home from 1958-2011. Athletic teams will remain the Privateers and continue to compete in the Southland Conference.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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