NEW ORLEANS – The LSU New Orleans Privateers volleyball team will head east to Georgia to take part in the West Georgia Invitational over the next two days. The Privateers will face Mercer and West Georgia on Friday then close the weekend with Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
 
The Privateers went 0-3 last weekend against tough competition at the San Jose State Invitational. LSU New Orleans picked off a set from Pacific where they had a season-high nine blocks in the match.
 
Mia Lopez is coming in with two all-tournament nods in as many weeks. After earning Libero of the Tournament in the opening weekend, Lopez was named to the all-tournament team at San Jose State. Lopez has 83 total digs through six matches and is averaging 3.77 digs per set, eighth most in the Southland.
 
Laura Piva had 34 kills last weekend and posted an attack percentage of .333. The senior outside hitter is averaging 3.18 kills per set, which ranks seventh in the league through two weeks.
 
Armie Hall joins Piva in the top ten in kills per set through the first two weeks. Hall had 33 kills last weekend with 16 coming against Pacific. Hall ranks fourth in the conference in kills per set at 3.36.
 
The Privateers have two weeks left before they start conference play. Through the early stages of the season, the Privateers are third in the league in hitting percentage and have allowed the third fewest blocks per set.
 
LSU New Orleans is 4-1 all-time against Mercer. The two teams last played in 2019. The Privateers are still searching for their first win against West Georgia in what will be the fourth ever meeting. LSU New Orleans has never played Gardner-Webb.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Mercer (2-3) split a pair of matches against North Dakota last weekend. The Bears were picked ninth in the 10-team Southern Conference. Lara Matta ranks tied for ninth in the SoCon in kills with 69. Mercer is second in the conference in digs per set with 14.79.
 
West Georgia (1-5) is coming off an 0-3 weekend in Kennesaw that saw them fall to Kennesaw State, Alabama A&M and Georgia State. The Wolves' lone win is their season opener against Northwestern State. Brooke McCall leads the team with 3.5 kills per set.
 
Gardner-Webb (4-3) lost a midweek match to Western Carolina in four sets. The Bulldogs went 2-0 in the I-85 Invitational last weekend against UNC-Wilmington and Alabama State. Peyton Stone and Sarina Galyean have combined for 146 kills through seven matches.
 
SEASON TICKETS
Tickets for all home matches are available here.
 
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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