MONROE, La. -- Despite outhitting Texas State .199 to .183 and having two players post double-doubles, the ULM volleyball team (6-10, 0-3 Sun Belt) was unable to collect the victory as the Bobcats defeated the Warhawks, 3-1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21), Sunday afternoon at the Fant Ewing Coliseum.
“Tough loss for us today,” head coach Patrick Hiltz said. “I'm really pleased with the way we fought and kept our energy up the entire match. Taking set two after being down as much as we were was huge for us. Our confidence needed to know we could come back not only in a set but in a match as well.”
Hadley Swartz was dominant in the effort, finishing with 17 kills and five digs to lead all scorers. The sophomore has now eclipsed double-digit kills for the fifth time this season.
On the opposite side, Hope Pawlik was equally as effective on both sides of the ball to pick up her first double-double of the year. The sophomore finished with 13 kills, 11 digs, three blocks and a service ace.
With ULM trailing 25-24 and on the brink of going down two sets to none, the Warhawks registered three straight points with two kills by Swartz and a pair of block assists by Alannah Cullum and Kaitlyn Shearer to tie the match at 1-1 heading into intermission.
ULM battled tough the next two sets forcing 11 tie scores and five lead changes, but was unable to clinch any of the sets as the Bobcats (8-7, 3-0 Sun Belt) picked up their third Sun Belt win to stay undefeated in the conference.
“The key now is to not rest on a good performance but rather come out to practice and continue to get better,” Hiltz added. “The Sun Belt is packed with really good volleyball teams so we have to make a concerted effort to keep getting better every day.”
Sophomore Bayleigh Hoffman collected her fourth career double-double by totaling 38 assists and 10 digs as the setter. Shearer tallied seven kills on 15 swings for a team-best .333 efficiency mark.
Marcela Araya continues her excellent play from the libero spot. The senior accumulated an outstanding 25 digs, which put her over the 20-dig mark for the seventh time this season.
The Warhawks will enjoy the week off before returning to action at home Friday night (7 p.m.) against Georgia Southern (0-12, 0-3 Sun Belt).
