MONROE, La. - The ULM volleyball team shutdown in-state
rival Grambling State and continued its hot start to the season by blanking the
Lady Tigers 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-12) Tuesday evening in the ULM Activity
Center. The Warhawks remain undefeated with three-straight wins.
ULM's 3-0 beginning to the season marks the first time in
history the program has had three-consecutive victories to open the year. It is
also the first time the Warhawks have claimed three wins in a row since 2005,
when ULM strung together six wins in its final season prior to joining the Sun
Belt Conference.
Junior Zuzana Markova was the lone player for the match to
reach double-digits in kills, recording 10 at a .412 clip while collecting a
team-high 15 assists to earn the first double-double of her career. Sophomore Blanca
Ocana was just one kill shy of double-digits with nine while senior Meghan
McCoy chipped in 14 assists. Senior Lacey Dietlin had a team-best 18 digs and Mahogany
Dilonga stuffed a match-high four blocks.
April Johnson collected six kills and two blocks for the
contest to lead the Lady Tigers while DaVarika Johnson had three kills and a
team-leading seven assists. Chelsee Goins picked up 18 digs. Grambling State
drops to 0-7 overall and has yet to win a set this season.
The Warhawks quickly jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first
set after back-to-back kills by Dilonga began a string of four-consecutive
points. The Lady Tigers brought the score within four points 9-5 when ULM took
off with a six-point run including two service aces by Markova to take a
commanding 15-5 advantage. Grambling State could not close the deficit to less
than 10 points for the remainder of the set as ULM claimed a 25-14 win.
Both teams went point-for-point to begin the second set before
a Grambling State service error swung the momentum toward ULM and it went on a
seven-point spree to grab an 11-4 lead. The Warhawks utilized multiple misfires
by the Lady Tigers to hold a 22-13 advantage until they attempted a late
comeback of four-consecutive points with kills by both Johnsons. A Samantha
Morse kill and final error awarded ULM the second set 25-17.
Grambling State took a slight 4-2 lead for the start of the
third set until ULM's Markova smashed back-to-back kills to spark a seven-point
spree and more than double its advantage 9-4. A nearly even 10-8 run ensued to
extend the Warhawks' lead 19-12 before they put away the set with the final six
points that resulted from forcing multiple Lady Tiger miscues to earn a 25-12
win and the match victory.
The Warhawks look to continue their unprecedented start this
weekend as they embark on a long 10-match roadstand, beginning with their first
tournament of the season at the Cowgirl Classic. ULM faces host McNeese State
for the second time in two weeks Friday at 7 p.m. in Lake Charles, La.,
followed by two matches Saturday against Prairie View A&M at 10 a.m. and
Oral Roberts at 3 p.m.
