NEW ORLEANS – The LSU New Orleans Privateers volleyball team will play their final scrimmage ahead of the 2026 regular season on Saturday when they face off against the Dillard Lady Bleu Devils. First serve is set for 12 p.m. at the Human Performance Center.
 
The Privateers played different rotations and put together strong defensive numbers in a 3-0 win over Xavier (La.) on Aug. 15. Ava Frerman led the team in kills (10) and digs (7) on the afternoon.
 
Head Coach Ashley Preston's squad which features a mix of seven returners and 11 newcomers, held Xavier to an attack percentage of .019 on the day. In two of those sets, the Gold Nuggets had more attack errors than kills as LSU New Orleans was in control for most of the day with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-12 score line.
 
LSU New Orleans also finished the day with seven total blocks. Alana Pierce was in on four of those rejections for the Privateers who will begin their regular season a week from Friday in the LSU New Orleans-Nicholls Challenge. Freshman, Ayen Nyuar also had two block assists against Xavier.
 
All three setters finished the day with double-digit assists. Defne Eciroglu had 12 assists while Mariana Franco and Rylie Hallman each had 10 assists. The Privateers had 38 kills on the afternoon against Xavier.
 
The Privateers have played six matches all-time against Dillard and have been victorious all six times in regular season bouts. The last time the two teams played in the regular season was in 2010.
 
Dillard is coming off an HBCUAC championship in 2025. The Bleu Devils went through conference play with an 11-1 mark and defeated Fisk in a five-set thriller in the championship to advance to the NAIA Tournament.
 
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.
 
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