MONROE, La. --- The ULM
volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Friday in the ULM Activity Center on
the opening day of the Adidas Warhawk Bayou Showdown. The host-Warhawks dropped
their first match in the morning to Houston Baptist in three sets (26-24,
25-12, 26-24) and later in the day to Southeastern Louisiana, 3-1 (12-25,
25-22, 25-20, 25-13).
During Friday's mid-day match
against Houston Baptist (8-1) the Warhawks fought hard in the first and third set,
but were unable to pull out a victory. The Warhawks were unable to put the
Huskies away as they led late in the first and third sets by four or more
points each.
“Tonight we played well at times
and with a purpose,” head coach John Schmidt said. “We were right on the brink
of winning the match against Houston Baptist, but we acted like we had won the
match before it was actually over. This is a great learning experience because
it is showing our young players how to step up when needed and close the door.”
Later in the day the Warhawks (0-7)
fell to an energetic Southeastern Louisiana (1-2) team. After winning its first
set of the season, the Warhawks dropped the next three. In the first set the
Warhawks were clicking on all cylinders as they had 14 kills compared to the
Lady Lions six. Throughout the next three matches the Warhawks couldn't compete
with the Lady Lions active front line as they made countless unforced errors.
Freshman Helen Theisen led the
Warhawks against Southeastern Louisiana with 28 assists and senior Johanna
Spreen added 12 kills.
The Warhawks will be looking for
revenge on Saturday, at 9 a.m. when they face Houston Baptist for the second
time in the ULM Activity Center. The Warhawks will also battle UMKC at 2 p.m.
to close the tournament.
