MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The ULM volleyball team dropped its opening match in the Memphis Invitational, losing in straight sets to the host Tigers, 3-0 (25-17, 27-25, 28-26), Friday (Sept. 15) morning. It marked the home opener for Memphis (5-5), who opened the season with nine consecutive road matches.

The match featured 25 ties and 13 lead changes.

In the first set, Memphis used a 7-1 run to take a 10-4 lead. A kill by red-shirt sophomore Sarah Marlatt gave the Tigers their largest lead at 17-7. A kill by senior Kalena Caruthers sparked a 5-1 run, as the Warhawks pulled to within 18-12; unfortunately, ULM was unable to tighten the margin and Memphis took the opening frame, 25-17.

The Warhawks (3-11) got off to a quick start in the second game and built a 4-1 lead on senior Jennifer McClendon's kill. ULM lead by as many as five late (21-16), but with the score tied at 25-25, Memphis claimed the set, 27-25, on back-to-back kills by sophomore Brianna Kadiku and freshman Kate Hoerdemann.

There were 16 ties and eight lead changes in the third set. Consecutive kills by sophomore Mikaela Worley highlighted a 7-1 run, as ULM managed to take a 21-18 lead. The game featured six ties over the final 13 points. The Warhawks led 26-25 and had set point on their service, but Memphis scored three-straight points, including two on kills by red-shirt freshman Hannah Flowers, to take the set and secure the sweep.

Memphis junior Kelsea Bivins produced a double-double, with 12 kills and 10 digs, while red-shirt freshman Natale Zanellato contributed 10 kills.

Three ULM players hit better than .360 for the match, including junior Tara Jenkins .500 (3-0-6), red-shirt sophomore Catherine Griffith .471 (9-1-17) and Caruthers .368 (7-0-19). Jenkins also was credited with 22 of the team's 28 assists.

"It's frustrating when we show that we can compete with these teams, but we can't get everyone to play well at the same time," ULM head coach Patrick Hiltz said. "We need more than two or three players to show up each game if we expect to win.

"The good news is that the issue of competitiveness that we had early in the season is gone. Unfortunately with that comes more close matches, and right now, we haven't shown an ability to close out sets very well. We still make avoidable errors at crucial times.

"It's an intriguing issue," Hiltz continued. "On one hand, we needed to raise our intensity during practice and games. We have done better, often much better at doing that. However now, we are almost too intense at the end of sets, and we can't just relax and continue to play calm, solid volleyball.

"Tonight and tomorrow we'll have opportunities once again to close out sets. Hopefully, we can begin to learn how to keep our cool, relax and just keep making the plays that got us in that position to begin with."

ULM returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. with a second-round match against UT Martin before concluding tournament play against Nicholls State Saturday at 12 p.m.