LAFAYETTE, La. – The ULM volleyball team dropped its lone Sun Belt Conference match of the week Thursday evening to UL-Lafayette, losing in straight sets 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22).
Two Ragin' Cajuns hit double-figures in kills as Lesley Mirachi ended the night with 12 and Caroline Dufrene with 10. Gavin Mandi had the lone double-double of the match, collecting 31 assists and 10 digs while Lindsay Brown had a match-high 12 digs.
UL-Lafayette (12-8, 3-2 SBC) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first set before a kill by Dilonga got ULM (0-14, 0-5 SBC) on the board. The Warhawks slowly chipped away at the Ragin' Cajuns' lead before a Wardach kill and a UL-Lafayette error brought ULM within one 8-7. The Ragin' Cajuns responded with a 9-5 run to increase their lead to 17-12, and a subsequent six unanswered points gave UL-Lafayette a 23-12 lead. Late kills by Marinova, Sukach and Davis and a Ragin' Cajun attack error awarded the Warhawks four consecutive points before a final kill and a ULM error gave UL-Lafayette the first set win, 25-16.
The Ragin' Cajuns grabbed the first lead of the second set with two service aces by Meade before the Warhawks went on a 6-0 spree to steal the lead 6-2. The score tied again 8-8 when UL-Lafayette went on a 6-2 streak, and another five unanswered points gave them a 13-8 lead. A narrow 5-4 run increased the Ragin' Cajuns' lead to 18-12 before a final 7-1 spree awarded UL-Lafayette the second set win, 25-13.
A kill by Dufrene and two Warhawk errors gave the Ragin' Cajuns an early 3-0 advantage in the third set before ULM began to chip away at UL-Lafayette's lead. Never falling behind by more than four points, the Warhawks went on a marathon 11-8 run to knot the score 11-11 before a Ragin' Cajun error gave ULM its first lead 12-11. Each team traded points until back-to-back Dilonga kills gave ULM a 17-14 lead, and the Warhawks continued to hold a three point advantage 20-17 until the lead changed hands again off four consecutive points by UL-Lafayette to go up 21-20. Three kills by the Ragin' Cajuns' Lazare and a kill by Dufrene ended the final set in favor of UL-Lafayette 25-22.
ULM will take the weekend off from competition before a two-game homestand next week when the Warhawks face Denver next Friday at 7 p.m. followed by a match against North Texas Saturday at 5 p.m.
