TEMPE, Ariz. -- The ULM volleyball team opened the Arizona State Marriott Invitational Friday evening with a 3-2 win over Alabama State inside Wells-Fargo Arena.
Freshmen Hadley Swartz led the Warhawks with 14 kills and 11 digs while Hope Pawlik chipped in 13 kills. Arizona natives senior Maria Garcia (10 kills) and juniors Kayla Kane (46 assists) and Alannah Cullum (11 kills, .529 hitting percentage) all had outstanding play. Junior Marcela Araya helped pace the defensive effort with 23 digs.
In the opening set, ULM (4-10) and Alabama State (5-9) battled intensely for each and every point in the early going. Then, with the match tied at 13, the Warhawks gained control, outscoring the Hornets 12-5 to close out the set.
The second set was the first of two that needed extra points to determine the match point. ULM went on an erupted to a 10-4 lead in the stanza before Alabama State came buzzing back. Quickly, the match was tied at 20. The Warhawks had an opportunity for match point three times, but the Hornets stung each opportunity and strung together two late points to take the set 28-26.
In the third set, it was ULM's turn to overcome a deficit. Alabama State led by as much as four before the Warhawks tied the match at nine and eventually grabbed the advantage, but the Hornets eventually tied the match at 18-all. ULM was able to close the frame on a 7-4 rally and take the set 25-22.
The fourth set also needed extra time and also went to Alabama State to force a fifth set. The stanza was back-and-forth throughout before the Hornets tied things up at 23. From that point, the frame was tied five more times before Alabama State took it 30-28.
ULM gained early control in the deciding set and never relented after breaking a five-all stalemate. The Warhawks used serving runs from Celine Flores, Cullum and Swartz to take the deciding frame 15-10 and the match 3-2.
ULM continues play in the Marriott Invitational tomorrow against Cal Poly and No. 18 Arizona State. Continue to monitor the Warhawks on Twitter @ULM_VB for more updates from Tempe.
