NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The LSU New Orleans Privateers gave the defending Southland champion, Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks all they could handle but fell on the short end 30 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23) on Saturday afternoon at Shelton Gym.
LSU New Orleans got out to a solid start in the third set as they looked to extend the match. The Privateers built a 16-11 lead through an aggressive offense and a strong block. The Privateers earned all of those points through 13 kills, two blocks and one ace.
However, SFA responded with a 10-1 run of their own. Katherine Holtman had six kills for the Ladyjacks in that stretch to give Stephen F. Austin a 21-17 lead.
The Privateers fought right back though as they saved the first two match point attempts on an attack error followed by an
Armie Hall kill. The third time was the charm for Stephen F. Austin though as Cravens finished the day with her eighth kill.
The Privateers were locked in a tight battle early in the opening set as the score was tied 9-9 after the first 18 rallies. After Stephen F. Austin got on the service line on the next point, Kyanna Creecy helped engineer a run of five more points in succession, which included two service aces.
The Privateers hung tough and closed the SFA lead to three off a block by
Nyakuak Lual and
Elani Ratchkovska. However, the Ladyjacks got back on serve after a Privateer service error and Avery Koonsen capped off the opening set with a kill.
The second set saw the Privateers jump to an early four-point lead but Stephen F. Austin quickly erased that gap and the set was air tight from there going to the media timeout.
Defne Eciroglu served an ace to put the Privateers up 15-14 at the timeout.
The set went down to the wire, but Stephen F. Austin won a crucial point late to take a 23-22 lead. During the rally, the Privateers looked to have the point won but on both occasions the ball was slowed down after being hung up on the elevated basketball goal. Cravens eventually finished off the point with a kill. The Ladyjacks converted on their first look at set point.
Holtman finished with 15 kills and a .464 attack percentage. Creecy had eight kills to go along with three blocks and three aces. Kennedy Jones had seven kills.
INSIDE THE BOX
Hall finished with 12 kills to lead the offense and hit .423 on the day.
Ryan Williams added 11 kills while
Laura Piva added eight kills.
Mariana Franco finished with 20 assists and
Mia Lopez led the team in digs with nine. Lual was in on three of the Privateers' six blocks on the day.
NEXT UP
The Privateers head to East Texas A&M on Thursday at 5 p.m.
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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