MONROE, La. -- ULM improved to 2-3 in its inaugural sand volleyball season with a 3-2 win over UAB (1-2) Thursday afternoon. The Warhawks recovered from a 2-0 hole and swept all of the top three individual flights to earn the victory.
In the third individual match, Maria Garcia and Marcela Araya dropped the first set 21-16 to UAB's Rachel Fairbanks and Kristen Gallagher. The Warhawk duo then edged the Blazer pair 21-14 to force a third set. ULM took the deciding set 15-12. It was the only three set match of the day.
"The day was a perfect start for ULM sand volleyball. Every team was pushed. We had a couple losses early which put pressure on the Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Our No. 3 team with [Garcia], who hasn't had much time in the sand, outlasted a team that was determined to beat them," head sand volleyball coach David Fischer said.
ULM's Michelle McNamee and Amy Grabiec handled UAB's Sam Serley and Alison Woods at No. 2, 21-14, 21-16. The win evened the overall match at two apiece.
Tetiana Sukach and Zuzana Markova improved to 5-0 and pushed the Warhawks over the edge in the top flight with their 21-11, 21-18 victory over the Blazers' Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas.
"In the No. 2, [McNamee and Grabiec] played with a lot of fire and passion. I think they learned that from watching our top pair. [Sukach and Markova] took care of business like normal," Fischer said, "We're excited about how things turned out and the fan support. We'd like to see them again in the future."
ULM visits Tulane tomorrow to open the Pelican Classic. First serve is at 4 p.m. in New Orleans.
ULM 3, UAB 2
1. Tetiana Sukach/Zuzana Markova (ULM) d. Kiriana Hirini/Bethanie Thomas (UAB), 21-11, 21-18
2. Amy Grabiec/Michelle McNamee (ULM) d. Sam Serley/Alison Woods (UAB) 21-14, 21-16
3. Marcela Araya/Maria Garcia (ULM) d. Rachel Fairbanks/Kristen Gallagher (UAB), 16-21, 21-14, 15-12
4. Ally Slaughter/Sara Rishell (UAB) d. Kylie Parks/Katie Harrington (ULM), 21-8, 24-22
5. Becca Howard/Kate Morrell (UAB) d. Iren Marinova/Alannah Cullum (ULM),
6. (EX) Sarah Johnson/Danielle Lewis (ULM) d. Emma Schroer/Lindsey Simmons (UAB), 21-17, 21-15
