JONESBORO, Ark. -- ULM was swept 3-0 at Arkansas State Friday night despite outstanding performances by freshman Hadley Swartz and juniors Marcela Araya and Kayla Kane.
Swartz nailed a match-high 16 kills while Araya, playing outside her normal libero spot, added a personal-best 12 kills. Kane tallied her second career double-double as a Warhawk, recording 27 assists and 11 digs. Freshman Celine Flores notched a season-best 19 digs.
The Red Wolves (9-12, 6-2 Sun Belt) and Warhawks (5-19, 1-7 Sun Belt) went toe-to-toe in both the first and third sets. ULM fought off two match points in the final set but fell 30-28. The set saw 13 tie scores, including 23-all and 25-all. The Warhawks grabbed had a late lead at 27-26 thanks to an Arkansas State attack error, but the Red Wolves used a 2-0 spurt to take a 28-27 lead. ULM fought off yet another match point but ASU used a kill by Sarah Kemp and a Mallory Warrington solo block to win the finale 30-28.
Kemp paced the Red Wolves' attack with 12 kills while Warrington chipped in a match-high 41 assists. ASU libero and reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week Megan Baska paced all defenders with 23 digs.
The teams also battled closely in the opening set. Arkansas State took off and led 18-9, but ULM began to crawl back. After the Warhawks took a timeout down 19-12, they scored outscored the Red Wolves 13-6 over the close of the set, however, ASU would take the beginning stanza 25-23.
Arkansas State controlled the middle set and took it by a score of 25-16, despite ULM grabbing a brief lead at 5-4.
The Warhawks remain on the road for a Sunday matinee at Georgia State. First serve is slated for 12 p.m. Central Time. For more updates, follow ULM on Twitter @ULM_VB.
