Arkansas State 3, ULM 1 (25-15, 25-27, 25-19, 25-17)
MONROE, La. -- The ULM Warhawks ended 2012 volleyball campaign by falling to Arkansas State in 3-1 fashion on Sunday afternoon at the ULM Activity Center.
ULM (5-18, 1-13 Sun Belt) junior left side hitter
Blanca Ocana recorded her first double-double of the season by recording a team high 13 kills as well as 13 assists and 15 digs. Senior outside hitter chipped in 18 assists and sophomore defensive specialist
Marcela Araya recorded 20 digs and a service ace.
Arkansas State (18-13, 8-6 Sun Belt) controlled the first set for the duration, erupting to an early 12-3 lead. The Red Wolves went on to take the opener 25-15.
ULM hit at a .370 clip in a set that saw 13 tie scores and six lead changes. ULM began the second frame by climbing out to a 5-1 lead before Arkansas State drew the set at 7-7. The Red Wolves would eventually fight to a 17-16 lead, but the Warhawks took a 19-17 lead and the teams soon traded two point rallies. ULM used two kills from redshirt sophomore middle blocker
Iren Marinova to eventually win the frame 27-25.
The Warhawks and Red Wolves continued to trade blows as the third set began to develop. The Warhawks led 9-6 before Arkansas State outscored ULM 17-6 to take a 23-15 lead. ULM closed the set on a 4-0 rally and fought off a total of five potential set points in the process before falling 25-19.
In the fourth set, ULM led as late as 12-11 before the Red Wolves took control and outscored ULM 14-5 to close the set with a 25-17 victory and win the match 3-1.
The Red Wolves' Kelsey Sullivan recorded a match-high 14 kills. Allison Kearney finished with a triple-double (10 kills, 36 assists, 25 digs).
Many of the members of the Warhawks' indoor volleyball team will spend the off-season preparing for the inaugural season of sand volleyball. The sand season opens March 8 in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
ULMWarhawks.com is the source for more information on the sand volleyball season.
