NEW ORLEANS – The LSU New Orleans Privateers will begin their conference travail this week with two matches in Texas. The Privateers head to Lamar on Thursday (6 p.m.) and travel to Stephen F. Austin (1 p.m.) on Saturday. Both matches will be carried on ESPN+.
 
The Privateers wrapped up their non-conference slate with a 1-2 mark in the Pelican Invitational and an ensuing loss to Tulane on Sunday. LSU New Orleans scored their first ever win over a current Big West program when they defeated Cal State Fullerton.
 
Mia Lopez won her second Libero of the Tournament honor after racking up 56 digs during the Invitational. Lopez ranks fourth in the Southland in digs per set with 4.34 heading into conference play. She has 204 total digs in 47 sets this year.
 
Ryan Williams also earned Pelican Invitational all-tournament honors. The senior outside hitter notched 30 kills against Idaho, Cal State Fullerton and Florida A&M. She had a career-high 17 kills in the Privateers' match against Florida A&M to close the tournament.
 
Ava Frerman returned to the lineup after missing the first three weeks due to injury. Frerman had 24 kills and 34 digs over the weekend in 12 sets played. She notched her first match of double-digit kills against Florida A&M and posted her first match with double-digit digs against Tulane.
 
The Privateers are 23-32 all-time against Lamar and 5-20 against Stephen F. Austin. Last year, LSU New Orleans split with Lamar winning at home in three sets. Stephen F. Austin has won 18 straight matches against the Privateers.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Lamar (3-10) picked up wins against Southern, Jackson State and Prairie View A&M. The Cardinals are led offensively by Maja Malinowska who was a first team All-Southland selection in 2025. This year, Malinowska is averaging 3.13 kills per set (seventh most in the SLC). Saida Maksoud leads the conference in blocks at 1.09 per set.
 
Stephen F. Austin (6-7) tied for the third most wins in non-conference play among any Southland school. The Ladyjacks are the defending Southland champions and thus far this season, they lead the conference in points per set at 15.73. Defensively, Kyanna Creecy and Jordan Henderson both rank in the top 10 in the conference in blocks.
 
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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