THE BASICS
Score: ULM 3 – Ga. Southern 0
Records: ULM (6-12, 1-0 SBC)
Ga. Southern (6-12, 0-1 SBC)
Location: Monroe, La. (Fant-Ewing Coliseum)
Monroe, La. – The ULM volleyball team swept Georgia Southern in the opening match of Sun Belt Conference play on Friday night for its first home win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-In set one, the teams stayed close until ULM went on a seven point run that put the Warhawks at set point. Georgia Southern managed to stay alive for one more point but ULM closed out the set with a kill from Kaitlyn Shearer.
-The Warhawks trailed in set two but edged their way back into the match and tied the score at 21. After tying the score ULM went on a 4-2 run that put the Warhawks up two sets to none.
-ULM jumped out to an early 6-3 lead that they would hold through the entirety of the set to take the match for the Warhawks first conference win on the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-ULM posted its highest hitting percentage as a team in set one (.417).
-ULM recorded its highest total of kills in sets one and two (14).
-ULM held Georgia Southern to its lowest hitting percentage in set two (.050).
-Hope Pawlik led the team with a double-double of 16 kills and 12 digs.
-Tara Jenkins fed the offense with 32 total assists on the night for an average of 10.67 assists per set.
-The last and only other time ULM beat a Sun Belt opponent in three sets was in 2006 against South Alabama in Monroe, La.
FROM COACH HILTZ
About the match: I'm most proud of the way we closed out the match in the third set. I'm not sure when the last time we beat a Sun Belt opponent in three sets so this is a nice start. Our energy was very good all night. We were steady emotionally all night and that was ultimately the difference for us tonight.
About the players: I thought H (Ana Ribeiro) came off the bench and was the perfect spark for us tonight. She got several touches on the block that allowed us to play better defense behind her. Hope was exactly what you'd expect from a senior leader. She not only played well but she helped everyone remain focused and calm all night. She was a coach on the court for us tonight and it was great to see.
Forward Focus: The important thing for us is to enjoy this win tonight and then wake up tomorrow and put all our focus on Georgia State. Good win tonight, on to the next one.
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will be right back on the Fant-Ewing Coliseum court Saturday afternoon as they continue Sun Belt Conference play against Georgia State at 6:30 p.m.
