NEW ORLEANS – The LSU New Orleans Privateers got a career-high 17 kills from
Ryan Williams, but they fell short on the day losing 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18) to the Florida A&M Rattlers on Saturday at the Human Performance Center.
Williams had seven kills in the opening set which was hotly contested. There were 15 different times that the score was tied before the Privateers broke through late to take the set.
A service ace by Williams got the Privateers to their first set point opportunity. They converted two rallies later through a kill by
Elani Ratchkovska to take the set.
From there, the Rattlers asserted command early in each set through a staunch block that posted 13 rejections on the day.
The Rattlers overcame a 6-2 deficit early in the second set and used a five-point run of their own to take a 15-11 lead. The Rattlers held the lead through the remainder of the set as the Privateers could not close to within fewer than a two-point difference.
Florida A&M used three Privateer attack errors to build an early 5-0 lead and held control through most of the third set. The Rattlers led by as many as nine points on two different occasions including 19-10 after a Farah Farooq solo block.
The Privateers tried to dig their way out of the deep hole on the scoreboard. An ace by
Mariana Franco after a Rattlers service error saw the Privateers save two set points. Sydney Whitfield responded for Florida A&M with a kill on the next rally though to seal the third set and a 2-1 lead.
Florida A&M closed out the day and the tournament strong by scoring 10 of the last 14 points to break open what was a close fourth set. Whitfield had seven kills in that stretch to lock up the victory for the Rattlers.
Whitfield finished with 24 kills and 13 digs for the Rattlers. LaDonna Trantham added 11 kills and 11 digs. Farooq had seven total blocks and Tamia Coleman finished with six blocks.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kiana Greer (IDAHO)-
Tournament MVP
Mia Lopez (LSU New Orleans)-
Libero of the Tournament
Sydney Whitfield (FAMU)
Sofia Shine (CSF)
Keira Kleidon (IDAHO)
Ryan Williams (LSU New Orleans)
INSIDE THE BOX
Williams' 17 kills eclipsed her previous high of 16, set in her freshman year (2023) against Lamar.
Ava Frerman had 11 kills and nine digs.
Armie Hall finished with 10 kills and five digs.
Rylie Hallman added 18 assists and 10 digs.
Mia Lopez led the team once again in digs with 19 and finished with 56 digs for the tournament.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will head to Tulane on Sunday for a 12 p.m. match.
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.
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