MONROE, La. -- Despite double-digit kill performances by Hadley Swartz and Kimberlie Alvarado, the ULM volleyball team was unable to get past Georgia Southern as the Eagles knocked off the Warhawks, 3-1 (17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21), Friday night at the Fant Ewing Coliseum.
"I can't speak for the girls but for me it's frustrating when you know what you need to do to win and for some reason you choose to do something different," head coach Patrick Hiltz said. "We continue to think we are 6'4" or taller. We continue to act like this is a sport that is won and lost by individuals. Until we learn to believe in each other, believe in our team, believe in the coaching, we will continue to struggle. Ultimately, we need to grow up. We are at a point in the season where we shouldn't be making the mental errors we are making.”
Swartz's first double-double of the season came in a superb effort as the sophomore racked up a match-high 17 kills to go with 12 digs and two aces.
Alvarado registered career numbers all across the board, finishing with 11 kills on 28 swings (.286) and four blocks. Freshman Bayleigh Hoffman assisted on 34 of the team's 44 kills, adding four digs and two kills in the process.
Right out of the gate, ULM came out on fire going up 15-6 after the second Georgia Southern timeout. The Warhawks would clinch a 25-17 first set victory following a back-to-back block assists by Alannah Cullum and Alvarado.
Sophomore Hope Pawlik chipped in with seven kills and five digs, while Jennifer McClendon tallied three kills. Senior Marcela Araya accumulated a match-high 15 digs for her 16th double-digit dig match of the year.
The Eagles would bounce back in sets two and three to take a 2-1 advantage in the fourth set. ULM would eventually fall in a tight fourth stanza that was originally tied at 21-21.
“We have to change our attitudes quickly or we will be in too deep of a hole to meet our goals,” Hiltz added. “I thought we made the turn last Sunday but apparently we are not there yet."
The Warhawks return to action on the road Sunday at UT Arlington (12-3, 2-1 Sun Belt). First serve is set for 12 p.m.
