MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team is set to start the 2016 season fresh with big goals in mind.
The program has seen marked improvement over the last two years with head coach Patrick Hiltz at the helm. The team almost doubled its wins from 2014 to 2015. Hiltz hopes to continue that improvement into the new season.
After a tough regular season conference loss ended the 2015 season, the Warhawks now look to make history and extend the 2016 season into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the first time.
“We put together a little bit of a tougher schedule this year,” said Hiltz. “Not so tough that we would be blasted, but tough enough that it would prepare us for conference and give us a chance at a spot in the conference tournament.”
ULM will start the season with 16 non-conference games against teams from varied conferences such as Conference USA, Southeastern, American Athletic, Missouri Valley, Southland Summit League, Mountain West, Atlantic Sun and Ohio Valley before conference play opens on Sept. 23.
The Warhawks will open their home schedule on Sept. 13 against Southern Miss.
ULM will boast 10 returners and will add five new faces that will fill out the roster for the 2016 season.
“All of our freshman are a great addition,” said Hiltz. “They are all willing to learn and very coachable.”
OUTSIDE HITTERS
ULM returns one outside hitter in Hope Pawlik. Pawlik was the number one leading scorer on the 2015 roster with 295 kills on the season and 2.84 kills per set.
Grace Convey and Mikaela Worley, both incoming freshman, look to make an impact right away.
SETTERS
The Warhawks return both Tara Jenkins and Presleigh Williams in the setter's position for the 2016 season. Jenkins stepped in to fill the libero position in 2015 and looks to get back to her roots in being a setter. Both Jenkins and Presleigh will come together in 2016 to quarterback the offense.
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Jennifer McClendon, Kaitlyn Shearer and Ana Ribeiro were big in the middle last year with a combined 247 kills and 133 blocks. Shearer led the team with 19 solo blocks and 65 assisted blocks on the season.
Catherine Griffith and Marissa Lagasse will bring new life to the middle position for the Warhawks.
Lagasse will also double as a right side hitter.
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Kacey LeBlanc and newcomers Albany Schaffer and Paige Huff will help keep the ball alive on the defensive side of the ball. LeBlanc returns to the team boasting 111 total digs in the 2015 for an average of 4.27 digs per set.
RIGHT SIDE
Kalena Caruthers and Sarah Woods were a right side duo from the 2015 roster that combined for a total of 65 kills on the season.
Catherine Griffith is a fresh new face in the right side position as she will bring more depth for the team.
ULM will kick off the season in Knoxville, Tenn. and will compete in the Tennessee Invitational on Aug. 26 and 27.
