CONWAY, Ark. -- The ULM volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Saturday to conclude the Central Arkansas Sugar Bear Invitational. First, the Warhawks suffered a 3-0 loss in a tough, but competitive match against UTPA followed up by a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Jackson State.
MATCH ONE -- UTPA 3, ULM 0
ULM went toe-to-toe with a very tough UTPA Broncos squad to open play Saturday.
Hadley Swartz led all attackers with 12 kills in the match while hitting at a blistering .346 clip. Marcela Araya chipped in 13 digs, also a match high.
The teams traded blows in the first set. The Warhawks and Broncos were tied several times, including as late as 22-all before UTPA rallied off the final three points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
In the middle set, ULM was down by as much as 10 at 18-8 before outscoring UTPA 12-7 to close out the set, 25-20. Swartz served for four straight points during the spurt.
The final set saw the two squads jockeying for position once again, but it was too late for the Warhawks to climb back in and the Broncos completed the sweep with a 25-17 victory.
“It was a competitive match throughout, but we couldn't take advantage of their weaknesses. We led most of the way in the first set,” head coach Patrick Hiltz said.
“We need to fix our block. UTPA's plan was to attack into our block. We have things to fix on defense this week in practice if we want to continue to get better.”
MATCH TWO -- Jackson State 3, ULM 2
In a very competitive five-set match, ULM fell 3-2 to Jackson State to close out the weekend.
The Warhawks received an outstanding performance from Maria Garcia (13 kills), Blanca Ocana (42 assists), Hadley Swartz (12 kills, 19 digs) and Marcela Araya (31 digs). Celine Flores added five aces and 10 digs in the effort.
After Jackson State controlled the first two sets (25-20, 25-16), ULM regrouped at the break to take the next two sets.
The Warhawks were in complete control in the third set, taking the stanza 25-16. The fourth set, however, was a battle throughout. The Lady Tigers clawed back into the match to tie things at 11-11 before ULM outscored JSU 14-11 to force a fifth set.
In the decider, the Warhawks had a chance at match point at 14-11 before the Lady Tigers tied things up. ULM would fight back and make things even at 16 before Jackson State strung together a two-point rally to take the set and the match.
“After the match, I told the girls I was happy they didn't give up after they were down 2-0 and forced a game five,” Hiltz said.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Swartz was named to the all-tournament team.
ULM returns to the court Friday at 9 a.m. for a rematch with UTPA--this time in Lake Charles, La.
