2022 Privateers Beach Volleyball Season Preview

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers beach volleyball team gears up for a 2022 season that sees the squad travel to Houston for the opening weekend. The first week of the two-month regular season will see the Privateers tested against three conference opponents.

THE SCHEDULE
New Orleans will begin with the HBU Tournament at Third Coast. In that event, New Orleans will face fellow Southland foes, HBU, Southeastern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It’s the first of seven tournaments on the docket for New Orleans.

The Privateers will stay within the immediate area with their longest trip being a haul to Forth Worth, Texas for the TCU Tournament.

New Orleans hosts their own invitational at Coconut Beach in Kenner where they will face North Florida, Nicholls, Spring Hill and Southeastern.

THE SQUAD
Three Privateers return after being bestowed with all-conference honors last season. Trinity Jackson and Hannah Volpi, who were paired together last season, earned all-conference recognition at flight five. Maxine Walsh and Alexa Spartz were also all-conference selections at flights two and three respectively.

The Privateers have four more returners in Lucie Pokorna, Hailey Melerine, Taylore Louviere and Liz Gialanella. Tara Goolsby wrapped up her first season of indoor volleyball on the Lakefront and will make the transition to the sand. Valerie Vujnovich debuts on the beach squad after playing indoor last year.

Three newcomers come aboard this year: Ivana De Carvalho Peixe was a regional champion with AS Monaco. Ania Esarte transfers for her senior season after recently playing for Colegio San Jaime. Serena Baumgart transfers from Eckerd where she played mostly at flight one last season.

THE STAFF
Amy Blanke was promoted to head coach last July. Blanke has been with the beach volleyball program since 2017. She is joined by Avery Thibodeaux who was hired in the summer as well. Thibodeaux comes over after he spent three seasons as an assistant at Union in Kentucky.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, @UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like /UNOPrivateers on Facebook and subscribe to the UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.