TEMPE, Ariz. -- ULM (4-12) dropped its final two matches in Arizona on Saturday. First, the Warhawks fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set against Cal Poly then ended the day falling in a 3-0 tilt against Arizona State.
Hope Pawlik and Alannah Cullum were named to the all-tournament team for the ASU Marriott Invitational.
MATCH ONE -- Cal Poly 3, ULM 2
The Warhawks fell in five sets to Cal Poly to begin play Saturday after battling from a 2-0 deficit in the match. The Mustangs used an early scoring spurt to take the deciding set 15-8 and the match 3-2.
Hadley Swartz's 13 kills and Hope Pawlik's 10 kills and two total blocks paced the ULM attack. Blanca Ocana had eight kills and 14 digs to add to the effort. Alannah Cullum was the most efficient hitter, nailing seven kills on 18 swings with one error (.333 hitting percentage).
The Mustangs (5-7) controlled the first two sets, earning points with a 24-14 win in the opener and took a 2-0 lead with a 25-15 win in the second.
The Warhawks made it a match in the third set, however. Things were tied at 22 all before ULM took advantage of a Cal Poly miscue to gain the lead. ULM closed out the set on a 3-1 run from that point, earning the set point at 25-23.
Down 16-14 in the third set, Warhawk head coach Patrick Hiltz used a timeout to rally the troops. After the break, ULM outscored the Mustangs 9-3 to take the fourth set 25-19 and tie the match at two sets apiece.
Cal Poly was in control throughout the fifth set and erupted to a 9-3 advantage after a 7-1 run. The Warhawks regrouped and battled over the last few points but the big lead was too much. The Mustangs took the final frame 15-8 for the 3-2 victory.
MATCH TWO - No. 18 Arizona State 3, ULM 0
ULM ended play in the ASU Marriott Invitational with a 3-0 loss to the hosting 18th-ranked Sun Devils Saturday night.
The Warhawks were led by Hope Pawlik and Hadley Swartz, both with seven kills apiece. Kayla Kane dished out 21 assists while Marcela Araya chipped in 11 digs.
Arizona State (10-1) took all three frames by a score of 25-14. ULM scored the first point of the match and the teams had a back-and-forth battle for the first portion of the opening stanza. After a six-all tie, however, the Sun Devils took off and never yieled the advantage the rest of the match.
ULM returns to action Sept. 27 when it opens conference play at UT Arlington. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
Continue to monitor the Warhawks on Twitter at @ULM_VB for more updates.
