SAN MARCOS, Texas – The ULM volleyball team struggled on the mental front today (Oct. 28) in its three-set loss to the Sun Belt's regular season champions Texas State (25-10, 25-23, 25-14). The Warhawks carried a four point lead headed into the final points of the second set, but succumbed to the Bobcats' offensive comeback attack.
 
"We weren't very mentally strong today," said head coach Russ Friedland. "We struggled this weekend bringing the good things we do daily in practice into the match. We had some great moments today, especially in the second set, but couldn't find a way to close it out against a high level team."
 
ULM (9-16, 2-10) started the first set, looking to be handling Texas State's offense considerably well. The Warhawks jumped out to a 5-3 lead with the help of redshirt-junior Catherine Griffith who recorded kills for four of ULM's first five points
 
Texas State (22-5, 13-0) did not let the Warhawks control the match for long, sparking a 12-point scoring run that left ULM trailing 15-5 mid-way through the first set.
 
Senior Sarah Woods ended the Bobcats run with a kill, but Texas State didn't lay off the pressure, allowing the Warhawks only four additional points before closing out their 25-10 win.
 
The second set looked promising for ULM, who after falling behind early, tied the set at six points and then took a 7-6 lead after forcing back-to-back attack errors by Bobcat Cheyenne Huskey.  
 
The Bobcats called for a timeout after the Warhawks secured a 21-17 lead with a service ace from senior Tara Jenkins. Texas State returned from the break and went on to win eight of the final 10 points, stealing the set from ULM and taking a 2-0 match lead with the 25-23 set two win.
 
"We got in our own heads today and need to do a better job staying in each moment and then moving on to the next one," said Friedland.
 
The final set was dismal for the Warhawks, who after falling just short of the win in set two, managed only 14 points and allowed the Bobcats to lead for the entirety of the set. Trailing 21-8, the Warhawks triggered a four-point scoring run, but a ball-handling error would give the Bobcats the serve, and control of the set once again. ULM would go on to drop the third set in a 25-14 decision.
 
"I'm glad we have the opportunity in a mid-week match to fix some things from this weekend and not have to wait another six days to compete," Friedland said about the Warhawks' last non-conference match on Tuesday, October 30 when they travel to Jackson, Miss. to face Jackson State.
 
ULM will play on the road once more in Lafayette, La. before returning home to host the Ragin' Cajuns on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
 
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