MONROE, La. - Playing in the final match of
her career, Mari O'Neal led all attackers with 10 kills, however, it was
Louisiana-Lafayette that claimed the back-and-forth Sun Belt match 3-0 (25-21,
25-20, 25-21) in front of the ULM Activity Center energized crowd.
Neither team could take control of the match
as there were a total of 31 scoring ties and 14 lead changes.
Louisiana-Lafayette (9-23, 3-15) finished with a .154 attacking percentage,
compared to ULM's .062, but it was crucial errors that propelled the Rajin' Cajuns
to victory.
Stephanie Wardach also smashed nine kills for
ULM (3-30, 0-18), while Mahogany Dilonga and Lacy Bates added six and five
kills, respectively. Meghan McCoy chipped in 29 assists and Christy Tribble led
three players with double digit digs, as she finished with 26. Lacey Dietlin
and McCoy recorded 14 and 12 digs, respectively.
"That was the best defensive effort I have
seen all year," ULM head coach John Schmidt said. "It was the best overall effort
we have given in a while; unfortunately the outcome wasn't in our favor."
Bethany Fogler, Mandi Gavin, and Ariel
Krolikowski each finished with nine kills apiece for the Rajin' Cajuns. Kendra
Hall recorded a double-double, 29 assists and 10 digs, while Lindsay Brown led
the team with 23 digs.
ULM found itself down 8-6 early, but
responded with a 5-2 run after capitalizing on a trio of Louisiana-Lafayette
attacking errors to take an 11-10. Following a Rajin' Cajuns timeout, neither
team could take control over the next portion of the match as
Louisiana-Lafayette would lead by as many as two on several instances.
With the score tied at 19-19, ULM called a
timeout and responded with a kill by O'Neal to take a one-point lead, 20-19.
Louisiana-Lafayette answered with an Amie Goodwin kill to begin a 6-0 run to
claim the opening stanza, 25-21.
In the second set there were 13 scoring ties
and six lead changes alone, as neither team could put a scoring run together
until Louisiana-Lafayette found a way in the end. After a Wardach kill to knot
the contest a 20-20, the Rajin' Cajuns responded with a Goodwin kill and capitalized
on three Warhawk errors to grab the second frame, 25-20, and a two-set lead in
the match.
Louisiana-Lafayette took a 10-7 lead after
four-consecutive attacking errors in the third frame. ULM answered with a 6-0
run behind three kills from Dilonga to earn a 13-7 lead. After both teams
exchanged points for the remainder of the set, it was the Rajin' Cajuns who
again were the beneficiaries of crucial Warhawk attacking errors, as they
claimed the set, 25-21, and straight set match sweep.
