THE BASICS
Score: ULM 3, South Alabama 2
(25-27, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13)
Records: ULM (9-21, 3-9 SBC)
South Alabama (14-12, 5-8 SBC)
Location: Monroe, La. (Fant-Ewing Coliseum)
Monroe, La. - The ULM volleyball team kicked off their five-game homestand with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Sun Belt Conference opponent South Alabama, winning the final three sets of the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Warhawks looked to take the first set at 24-21 but South Alabama crept its way back in and tied the score at 24. USA was able to push back and take the first set.
-ULM led early on in the second set but again the Jaguars found their way back into the match. After a tie score of 18 USA went on a five-point run that would put them three points away from taking the set. With one final push after a three-point run from the Warhawks the Jaguars were able to close out the set.
-South Alabama was leading the match 2-0 and looking to close the night out in the third set. However, after a tie score of 18 ULM flipped the tables on USA and was able to take the set three win.
-In set four the Warhawks took control right away and posted an 8-3 lead to start things off. ULM saw that lead to the close of the fourth set to tie the match score at two sets apiece.
-ULM came out strong again in set five and was the first team to five, 10 and 15 points as the Warhawks led for the entirety of the final set.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-The teams recorded a total of 15 tie scores and seven lead changes. The highest total of tie scores was in set three with six and the highest total of lead changes was in set two.
-ULM held the Jaguars to their lowest hitting percentage in set three (.100).
-ULM posted its highest hitting percentage in set five (.263).
-ULM recorded its highest total of kills in a set in set four (16).
-Hope Pawlik posted a double-double on the night with 14 kills and 15 digs. Kalena Caruthers followed Pawlik on the offensive end with 12 kills of her own.
-Tara Jenkins also put up a double-double on the night with 41 assists and 15 digs. The setter averaged 8.2 assists per set.
-Kacey LeBlanc led the defensive effort with 25 total digs on the night for an average of five digs per set. LeBlanc also contributed five services aces in the match.
-Kaitlyn Shearer was a force at the net recorded the teams only solo block on the night as well as eight blocking assists.
FROM COACH HILTZ
About the match: Any win is a good win right now. I'm proud of the girls for fighting back. Especially down 11-4 in the third. The nice thing about winning in five sets is that you get to go home a winner but you can also find lessons to be learned. I felt like one of those lessons was finding a way to let go of errors and mistakes quickly. Or at least quicker. When we hang onto negative plays, results and feelings, we give up big runs of points. When we let them go and support each other, we minimize runs and stay in the game better. What we have been working on this week is doing a better job supporting each other when things aren't perfect. Tonight we did a much better job of picking each other up. It made a huge difference.
Looking forward: The test now is can we do it again? Can we keep our focus right where it was tonight and do it again on Sunday? I believe we can. I believe we will.
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will now take on Troy on Sunday inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum at noon.
