JONESBORO, Ark. - The ULM
volleyball team was unable to end Arkansas State's undefeated reign on their
home court this season after falling 3-1 (25-27, 26-24, 8-25, 14-25) in Sun
Belt Conference action Sunday afternoon in the HPESS facility. The Red Wolves,
who remain in first place in the West Division, extended their home winning
streak to nine-straight.
Samantha Morse provided the
offensive firepower with a match-high-tying 15 kills at a .375 attack rate. Zuzana
Markova had 12 kills and a team-high 11 assists for her 18th
double-double this season. Marcela Urbina collected a ULM-best 14 digs and Tetiana
Sukach had 12.
Three Red Wolves reached
double-digits in kills as Cayla Fielder led with 15 followed by Jasmine Terry
and Taylor Szypulski with 13 and 12, respectively. A'Zlynn Thompson had 43
assists and Megan Baska picked up 17 digs.
Arkansas State (18-7, 9-2 SBC) took advantage of an attack
error and back-to-back kills by Terry to double its advantage 12-6 in the first
set. ULM (9-13, 3-9 SBC) answered with a 15-10 run capped by two kills by Morse
to inch within one point 22-21, but the Red Wolves pushed their lead back out
to set point 24-22. The Warhawks held off game point twice to knot the score 24-24
and one more tie ensued before a kill and an attack error gave the Red Wolves
the set 27-25.
The fired-up Warhawks scored three-straight points to take
the largest lead of the second set before the Red Wolves responded with
three-consecutive points of their own to even the score. Another 16 ties
followed until the 24-24 mark to force an extended set when ULM benefitted from
an attack error and a final kill to win 26-24.
The Red Wolves snatched a lopsided 11-2 start in the third
set before ULM responded with four-straight points to close the deficit 11-6. A
service error allowed Arkansas State to take control again and used a
nine-point spree to seize a commanding 20-6 lead. A final 5-2 run ended the set
25-8.
A 9-3 run in favor of Arkansas State fueled by three-straight
kills by Szypulski and Tipps opened the fourth set. An 11-6 run increased the
Red Wolves' advantage to 21-9 and the Warhawks managed to close the gap to
22-14 before a service error and two kills ended the set and match 25-14.
ULM returns home to close out the season with four final
matches, beginning with the Florida schools next weekend when it hosts FIU
Friday at 6 p.m. followed by Florida Atlantic Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
