ATLANTA – The ULM beach volleyball team bested Eckerd College 4-1 and UNC-Wilmington 3-2 Friday at Geogia State's Diggin' Duals inside GSU Beach Volleyball Complex.
“I couldn't be more pleased with the way we played this afternoon,” ULM head beach volleyball coach Patrick Hiltz said. “Our ones took care of business from start to finish, but I am most proud of our fours, fives and sixes. All three lost their first set (against UNCW) but showed amazing resolve and spirit. All three came back to win their matches in exciting fashion.”
ULM 4, Eckerd 1
Three of the four point-scoring teams pulled out straight-set wins in the 4-1 victory over Eckerd. Juniors Kaitlyn Shearer and Hadley Swartz buckled down to win the final two sets 21-14, 15-12 after dropping the first by a slight 22-20 margin.
1. Pawlik/Zaeske (ULM) def. Kotnik/Sibson (Eckerd) 21-17, 21-16
2. Swartz/Shearer (ULM) def. Boatwright/Bogda (Eckerd) 20-22, 21-14, 15-12
3. Whiting/Erillo (Eckerd) def. Driver/Simpson (ULM) 21-12, 21-16
4. Crossfield/Jenkins (ULM) def. Cary/Cornatzer (Eckerd) 21-15, 21-15
5. Hoffman/Griffith (ULM) def. Redner/Reis (Eckerd) 21-14, 25-23
Exh. Brown/McClendon (ULM) def. Burr/Bilbray (Eckerd) 21-11, 21-12
ULM 3, UNCW 2
After the fours and fives won in three sets, juniors Hope Pawlik and Taylor Zaeske sealed the match in two sets, outscoring the Seahawks 42-24.
1. Pawlik/Zaeske (ULM) def. Lott/Powell (UNCW) 21-10, 21-14
2. Borgiotti/McCullough (UNCW) def. Swartz/Shearer (ULM): 21-19, 21-19
3. Crutcher/Kline (UNCW) def. Driver/Simpson (ULM) 21-17, 21-15
4. Crossfield/Jenkins (ULM) def. Kelly/Hunt (UNCW) 17-21, 22-20, 15-10
5. Hoffman/Griffith (ULM) def. Alvis/Gesell (UNCW) 19-21, 21-18, 15-12
Exh. Brown/McClendon (ULM) def. Moss/Desjardins (UNCW) 10-21, 21-17, 15-8
“Today was a much needed 2-0 day for us. Energy stayed positive all day and I look forward to seeing more of the same tomorrow,” Hiltz said.
The Warhawks improve to 4-7 on the season and face Lincoln Memorial and Georgia State tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT, respectively.
For updates on the beach volleyball squad, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
