CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Louisiana Monroe lost in straight sets to Murray State, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-17), Friday in the opening round of the Chattanooga Classic.
 
As a team, Murray State hit a season-best .400 (49-13-90), while ULM hit. 212 (19-5-66) for the match. Sophomore Rachel Giustino paced the Racers offensively, hitting .500 (19-3-32) while recording a match-best 19 kills. Sophomore Rachel Holthaus hit .429 (7-1-14) with seven kills. Murray State (3-1) won its third-straight match of the season while posting a season-high 10 service aces.
 
Three Warhawks hit better than .350 for the match, including senior Taylor Wood .429 (3-0-7), freshman Lauren Appelman .400 (2-0-5) and sophomore Mikaela Worley .353 (8-2-17). Worley's eight kills let the team.
 
"We're still playing with a passive mentality," ULM head coach Patrick Hiltz said. "We need players to start caring about the team before themselves. We lack discipline as well. I'll take responsibility for the discipline issues on the court, but we can fix that.
 
"But from a mental standpoint, if this was a boxing match, all we're doing is covering up. We aren't throwing any punches. Until we start fighting back and doing so collectively as a team, wins will be tough to find. We need people and leaders to step up and take control of the season, and we need it to happen soon."
 
Saturday, ULM (0-5) opens Day 2 of the Chattanooga Classic against host Chattanooga at 11:30 a.m. CT before concluding tournament action against Sam Houston State at 3:30 p.m.

As a team, Murray State hit a season-best .400 (49-13-90), while ULM hit. 212 (19-5-66) for the match. Sophomore Rachel Giustino paced the Racers offensively, hitting .500 (19-3-32) while recording a match-best 19 kills. Sophomore Rachel Holthaus hit .429 (7-1-14) with seven kills. Murray State (3-1) won its third-straight match of the season while posting a season-high 10 service aces.

Three Warhawks hit better than .350 for the match, including senior Taylor Wood .429 (3-0-7), freshman Lauren Appelman .400 (2-0-5) and sophomore Mikaela Worley .353 (8-2-17). Worley's eight kills let the team.

"We're still playing with a passive mentality," ULM head coach Patrick Hiltz said. "We need players to start caring about the team before themselves. We lack discipline as well. I'll take responsibility for the discipline issues on the court, but we can fix that.

"But from a mental standpoint, if this was a boxing match, all we're doing is covering up. We aren't throwing any punches. Until we start fighting back and doing so collectively as a team, wins will be tough to find. We need people and leaders to step up and take control of the season, and we need it to happen soon."

Saturday, ULM (0-5) opens Day 2 of the Chattanooga Classic against host Chattanooga at 11:30 a.m. CT before concluding tournament action against Sam Houston State at 3:30 p.m.