NEW ORLEANS -- ULM came back from a 2-0 deficit and defeated Tulane 3-2 Friday afternoon in the Pelican Classic, held on New Orleans' Coconut Beach.
The Green Wave (2-1) took the fourth and fifth flights to climb to a 2-0 lead in the match. The Warhawks (3-3) then rallied and swept the top three flights to earn their second straight win.
It began at the No. 3 positon. Marcela Araya and Maria Garcia handled Tulane's Courtney Liddle and Milica Jovic 21-13 to open their match. Liddle and Jovic took the second set 21-17 to force a third set. Araya and Garcia took the deciding round 15-10 and put the Warhawks on the board.
"Our wins yesterday and today don't happen unless a few breaks go our way. Both duels hinged on a couple of points. But they also don't happen without [Araya] in our #3 flight. She's digging a ton of balls, seeing the court and getting teams desperate to serve away from her--and she's maybe 5-5," head sand volleyball coach David Fischer said.
In the second flight, Amy Grabiec and Michelle McNamee fell in their opening set against Jackie Wegner and Anna Wruck but the Warhawk tandem quickly regrouped. They took the final two sets 21-17 and 15-13 and evened the team match at 2-2.
Zuzana Markova and Tetiana Sukach once again took care of business at the No. 1 position, handling the Green Wave's Sophie Asprey and Cori Matone, 21-16, 21-10 to give the Warhawks the win. The duo improved to 6-0 on the year.
The Warhawks conclude the Pelican Classic tomorrow against Stetson. First serve is at 10 a.m.
ULM 3, Tulane 2
1. Zuzana Markova/Tetiana Sukach (ULM) def. Sophie Asprey/Cori Martone (TLN), 21-16, 21-10
2. Amy Grabiec/Michelle McNamee (ULM) def. Jackie Wegner/Anna Wruck (TLN), 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
3. Marcela Araya/Maria Garcia (ULM) def. Courtney Liddle/Milica Jovic (TLN), 21-13, 17-21, 15-10
4. Azarri Badawi/Grace Weaver (TLN) def. Katie Harrington/Kylie Parks (ULM), 21-17, 21-18
5. Mackenzie Moore/Olivia Utt (TLN) def. Alannah Cullum/Iren Marinova (ULM), 21-14, 21-17
