COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The ULM sand volleyball program suffered a pair of 3-2 defeats Saturday as it opened play at the South Carolina Sand Tournament in Columbia, S.C., against the College of Charleston and Mercer.
Marcela Araya and Zuzana Markova went 2-0 on the day while Michelle McNamee, Hadley Swartz, Blanca Ocana and Hope Pawlik each went 1-1.
“Marcela and Zuzana remain our most consistent team. Since their first match together, they've managed to beat the top pair of every school we've faced,” head coach David Fischer said.
“I think it's safe to say both of today's duals could have gone the other way with multiple games decided by two points. Both duals literally came down to one set,” he added.
MATCH ONE - College of Charleston 3, ULM 2
Despite taking the top two flghts, ULM fell 3-2 to the College of Charleston at the South Carolina Sand Tournament.
Zuzana Markova and Marcela Araya improved their personal record to 5-1 with a sweep of the Cougars' Emily Neideffer and Darcy Dorton.
Meanwhile, Michelle McNamee and Hadley Swartz picked up their second win as a duo, also in 2-0 fashion.
Blanca Ocana and Hope Pawlik were just two points shy in both of their sets at the third seed while Alannah Cullum and Rachel Arnason battled hard at the fourth spot.
Kayla Kane made her sand volleyball debut at the number five seed with Kaitlyn Shearer.
College of Charleston 3, ULM 2
1. Zuzana Markova/Marcela Araya (ULM) d. Emily Neideffer/Darcy Dorton (C of C), 21-16, 21-15
2. Michelle McNamee/Hadley Swartz (ULM) d. Melissa Morello/Cara Howley (C of C), 22-20, 21-19
3. Sloane White/Andi Zbojniewicz (C of C) d. Blanca Ocana/Hope Pawlik (ULM), 22-20, 21-19
4. Caley Warren/Kari Fidelholtz (C of C) d. Alannah Cullum/Rachel Arnason (ULM), 21-18. 23-21
5. Kallie McKown/Maddie Hills (C of C) d. Kayla Kane/Kaitlyn Shearer (ULM), 21-13, 21-11
MATCH TWO -- Mercer 3, ULM 2
ULM fell 3-2 to Mercer to conclude the day on the South Carolina coast Saturday.
Marcela Araya and Zuzana Markova once again took the top seed, but they needed a third set, edging the Bears' Victoria Penrod and Natalie Braun 19-17.
Blanca Ocana and Hope Pawlik also got into the win column in the match, taking the third flight 21-15, 21-17.
Michelle McNamee and Hadley Swartz took their opening set 27-25 then fell 21-19 in the second to force a third set. Mercer's Jamie Duffy and Emma Peel rallied to win 15-12 in the deciding frame and seal the match.
The Warhawks remain in South Carolina to take on Oregon and the host Gamecocks tomorrow morning.
Mercer 3, ULM 2
1. Markova/Araya (ULM) d. Victoria Penrod/Natalie Braun (MU), 19-21, 21-13, 19-17
2. Jamie Duffy/Emma Peel (MU) d. McNamee/Swartz (ULM), 25-27, 21-19, 15-12
3. Ocana/Pawlik (ULM) d. Caroline Carlton/Demi-Shay Watchorn, 21-15, 21-17
4. Zoe Becton/Emily Rochefort (MU) d. Cullum/Arnason (ULM), 21-11, 21-13
5. Erin Brett/Hannah Sorensen (MU) d. Flores/Shearer (ULM), 21-12, 21-3
