HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies swept New Orleans in Sharp Gym for Dig Pink match on Homecoming weekend (25-19, 25-19, 25-16). HCU dominated the Privateers in both conference matchups this season sweeping UNO in both contests.  

The Privateers jumped out to an early, 5-1, lead in the opening set but the Huskies (14-12, 9-5 SLC) rallied seven of the next eight points to grab an 8-6 lead and force an early timeout by UNO. HCU extended the lead to three points at 12-9 before the Privateers (5-20, 3-11 SLC) scored two straight points to get within one point at 12-11. The Huskies tallied a three-point run capped off by a kill by Audrey Pearce to improve the lead to four points, but UNO narrowed the gap to two points at 18-16. With three straight points by HCU ending with a kill by Anna Gadway, the Huskies grabbed a five-point lead at 21-16 and cruised to an opening set victory, 25-19.

The Huskies picked up right where they left off taking an early, 4-1, lead in set two. HCU held the three-point lead through 11-8 before the Privateers scored four straight points to claim their first lead of the set at 12-11. UNO kept the one-point lead at 15-14 before the Huskies retook the lead off a three-point run starting with a kill by Cassidy Drapela. HCU extended the lead to four points at 20-16 off three straight kills by Pearce, Lexie Temple, and Grace McLaughlin. The Huskies closed out the second set, 25-19, off back-to-back kills by Drapela to take a 2-0 set lead.

HCU continued to dominate the Privateers grabbing an early, 6-2, lead before UNO narrowed the gap to three points at 7-4. The Huskies took control of the final set scoring six of the next seven points to extend the lead to eight points at 13-8. After back-to-back points by the Privateers, the Huskies tallied another run of five points to take a commanding 18-7 lead and coast to a, 25-16, set win and close out UNO in straight sets.

The Huskies were led by Drapela with 13 kills while Gadway added 11 kills and two blocks. Grace McLaughlin dished out 36 assists while Kaley Feris lead the back line with 11 digs.

New Orleans was led by Karen Cordero Barr with 11 kills and three aces. Courtney Roundtree added 10 kills to the Privateer offense while Vera Beltrame dished out 28 assists along with 12 digs. Tatiana Mercer led UNO's back line with eight digs.

The Huskies will return to action on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. traveling to Natchitoches, Louisiana to take on Northwestern State in Prather Coliseum.