MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team fell in straight sets
to Troy on Saturday afternoon in its second Sun Belt Conference match of the
season in the ULM Activity Center 3-0 (25-14, 28-26, 25-14).
The Warhawks were led by junior setter Meghan McCoy, who had
26 assists in the match while freshman outside hitter Blanca Ocana collected 11
kills. Senior outside hitter Stephanie Wardach contributed nine kills and
senior libero Christy Tribble had 21 digs.
Megan Henderson led Troy with the only double-double of the
match, amassing 35 assists and 14 digs. Courtney Cohen led both teams in digs
with 25 while Vicky Rogoschewsky also hit double-digits with 11 digs. Natasha Kolunjia
had match-high 16 kills.
Troy (7-10, 1-1 SBC) took an early 4-0 lead in the first set
before ULM (0-11, 0-2 SBC) got on the board with a kill by Ocana. An even 4-4 run
brought the score to 8-4 before the Trojans went on a 10-6 spree to extend
their lead to 18-10. A 7-4 streak, including an unanswered final four points,
would give Troy the first set win 25-14.
Troy grabbed a 6-3 lead in the beginning of the second set
before three ULM errors fueled a 5-0 spree to increase the Trojans' lead to 11-3.
The Warhawks began to chip away at Troy's lead, using a 17-12 run that included
multiple lengthy rallies to come within three, 23-20. A kill by Wardach and two
Trojan attack errors knotted the score for the first time, 24-24, and a subsequent
kill by Ocana gave ULM its first lead of the match, 25-24. The Warhawks could
not hang on though and the Trojans won the second set 28-26.
The Trojans took a 5-1 lead in the beginning of the third set
before the Warhawks hit their rhythm and went on a 9-6 run to take a 11-10
advantage. Troy answered with an 11-2 scoring streak, including seven
consecutive points, to nearly double their lead, 23-12. The Warhawks scored
twice more before final kills by McClelland and Henderson ended the third set,
Troy winning 25-14.
ULM will hit the road again next weekend for two road
matches, beginning Friday, Oct. 1 against Denver at 8 p.m. before heading to
Denton, Texas, to face North Texas Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.
