Blue Raider's Fall to UNO in Sun Belt Tourney

NEW ORLEANS - Tournament-host New Orleans came back from a 13-8 deficit in the fifth game in taking a 3-2 (30-28, 28-30, 30-27, 26-30, 18-16) win over No. 4 seed Middle Tennessee on Thursday evening in the final quarterfinal match of the 2004 Aeropostale Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championships at the UNO Kiefer Lakefront Arena.

The Privateers (20-10) advance to Friday's 5 p.m. semifinal match against top-seed New Mexico State.

Middle Tennessee (17-14) got 32 kills from All-Sun Belt outside hitter KeKe Deckard, allowing her to become the first Blue Raider in school history to record over 2,000 kills. Deckard ends her career at Middle Tennessee with 2,028. Sophomore Andressa Lyra had 28 kills and setter Megan Sumrell had 73 assists.

UNO was paced by All-Sun Belt outside hitter Jennifer Cruz, who had 28 kills. Christine Zimmer added 12 kills and 22 digs, while Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Jayne Duncan had a match-best 27 digs. In a see-saw match, the Blue Raiders appeared prime for the win after taking the fourth game and grabbing a quick 6-1 lead in the fifth. Trailing 13-8, though, the Privateers fought back. The Blue Raiders fought off three match points before the Privateers cinched it.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.