NEW ORLEANS, La. – The ULM Sand Volleyball team (6-1) bumped their winning streak to five-straight matches after taking a pair of matches against UNO (0-8) and No. 16 North Florida (3-3) Wednesday in New Orleans at the Coconut Beach Sand Courts.
The Warhawks have now knocked off two ranked opponents on the season improving their record to 6-1 on the season.
ULM will enjoy some time off before returning to the courts March 28th when the Warhawks travel to Birmingham, Ala. for the Blazer Beach Duals Tournament.
“With this weekend off, it's time to hit the books and get ready for the heavy-travel portion of our season,” head coach David Fischer said. “We're off to a great start, but it's the finish that people remember.”
Game 1
Following a 5-0 shutout over Spring Hill College on Friday, ULM picked up its second shutout in as many matches. The Warhawks dropped only one set the entire match after grabbing straight set wins at the one, two, three and five dual slots.
“We we're smoother and more intense during our morning UNO dual than we were against Spring Hill a few days ago,” Fischer said. “Learning to keep intensity high when we're the favorite is something we're working on.”
Celine Flores and Rachel Arnason earned their second victory of the season at the No. 5 slot with consecutive 21-13 wins.
“Again Celine and Rachel were in control at the 5s,” Fischer added. “Hope and Hadley attracted a crowd with their thumping of the ball on court 3, and Marcela and Michelle made a quick work of their opponent at the 1s.”
Despite playing three sets, Taylor Zaeske and Kaitlyn Shearer kept their perfect record intact with a convincing 15-4 win in the final set of the No. 4 duals.
Game 2
On the verge of defeat down 2-1, ULM dug deep and grabbed wins at the top-two spots to keep their winning streak alive and knockoff No. 16 UNF.
“We knew our match against UNF was going to be a battle,” Fischer said. “They've had a sand program since the very first year, and like us, they've been to Nationals, both as a school and with their top pairs.”
Shearer and Zaeske did what they do best and grabbed the win at the fives to give ULM a point.
“The first pair to start was Kaitlyn and Taylor at the 5s, and they keep finding ways to win,” Fischer added. “Kaitlyn hit an overpass down so hard it would have bounced and hit a light fixture in our gym.”
Top pair Michelle McNamee and Marcela Araya handled business against Cari Whitmire, Cameron McGuire, 21-11, 21-16, to earn their seventh dual victory in as many matches.
No. 2 duo Hope Pawlik and Katie Lindstrom blew by Tessa Alyman, Jess Kinlaw, 21-15, 21-14 to keep the Warhawks undefeated at Coconut Beach.
“I found out from coach Hiltz that once Hope/Katie and Marcela/Michelle realized the dual might rest on them, they turned it up a couple of notches.”
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