MONROE,
La.?Florida International defeated ULM 3-0 (30-19,
30-14, 30-27) behind 13 kills from Yarimar Rosa and 11 kills from Olga Vergun
Friday night at the ULM Activity Center.
Johanna Spreen led the Warhawks with nine kills, while Ashley Onley had
13 assists and four digs in the Sun Belt opener for both clubs.
The Golden Panthers (6-2, 1-0
SBC) hit .407 as a team led by Mina Spasojevic's .625 (6-1-8) mark. ULM (0-14, 0-1) had an outstanding game three
offensively hitting .375 with 15 kills and just three errors; Spreen hit a
remarkable .538 (9-2-13) which is the best mark by a Warhawk this season (with
over three kills). The Warhawks hit .083
for the match.
The Warhawks kept things tight
over the opening two-thirds of game one before FIU used an 8-1 run turning a
19-17 lead into a 27-18 advantage. The Golden
Panthers closed game two on a 20-6 run after ULM scored four-of-five points pulling to
within two at 10-8.
ULM jumped out to a 14-8 lead in game three
thanks to four kills by Spreen. FIU
quickly bounced back scoring eight of the next 11 points tying the frame at
17-17. The teams traded the next 19
points back-and-forth with the Panthers coming out holding a slim 27-26
lead. FIU was able to score three of the
final four points to take the game and the match.
Christy Tribble posted a
match-high 11 digs as the Warhawks' libero, while Stephanie Hall, Mari O'Neal
and Stephanie Wardach each added four kills.
The Warhawks finished the match
with seven blocks; their third best total of the season and their second most
in a three-game match. Jessica Ayodele
led ULM with
four blocks, while Candice Howell and Stephanie Wardach each had three.
Mariana Drumeva led FIU with 10
digs.
ULM
wraps up the opening weekend of Sun Belt play on Sunday against Florida
Atlantic (3-7, 0-0) at 1:00 pm in the ULM Activity
Center. The Warhawks will hold a free clinic
following the match against the Owls and everyone is welcome to attend and get
some pointers.
