LAFAYETTE, La. – The ULM volleyball team traveled south for a rivalry match against the Ragin' Cajuns on Friday, dropping a thrilling five-set match (22-25,25-22,19-25,25-19,11-15) in front of a crowd of 508. The Warhawks and Ragin' Cajuns will meet again on Sunday, Nov.4 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
"Tonight was a battle," said head coach Russ Friedland "I thought we fought harder tonight than we have in a while and I'm proud of this team for that. I challenged them to bring just a little bit more to the match and they did it."
 
The Warhawks were led by junior Mikaela Worley and freshman Cali Assaley who recorded 12 and 11 kills respectively. Worley and Assaley's kills accounted for 23 of ULM's 53 successful attacks.
 
Senior Taylor Wood contributed seven kills in the Warhawks' efforts, in addition to seven from both redshirt-junior Catherine Griffith and freshman Kate Blasingame.
 
Both of ULM's go-to setters finished out the night with double-double performances. The seniors combined for 42 total assists and 24 digs. With the help of Blasingame (26) and junior Katie McKay (22), the Warhawks recorded a total 88 digs.
 
"Defensively we did a great job of fighting off kills and pursuing every ball. Both setters along with Katie and Kate collecting double digit digs is huge."
 
"We'll need that same high energy on Sunday," Friedland said. "Paired with a little more offense from our attackers, we can be victorious.  I'm excited to battle again and I know the team is too."
 
The Ragin' Cajuns recorded 61 kills over the five sets, 19 of which were earned by Hali Wisnoskie. ULL had two others with double-digit kills: Hanna Rovira (12) and Nia Antoine (10).
 
After dropping set one, 25-22, ULM bounced back to return fire in set two, eventually winning the second set by the same score.
 
"We got a little timid at the end of the sets and that was the difference," said Friedland. "It's a mentality that we are trying to instill in this program. We didn't have it at the end today."
 
The Ragin' Cajuns had an early set two lead, 10-7 before a four-point run by the Warhawks gave them an 11-10 lead over ULL. The Warhawk defense was able to force ten offensive errors en route to their set two win.
 
Returning from the intermission, ULM could not maintain its energy and fell to the Ragin' Cajuns 19-25. The Warhawks actually finished the third set with an improved hitting percentage, accumulating 13 kills and five errors with a .186 performance at the net.
 
The fourth set was the best of the five for the Warhawks. Swinging only 34 times, ULM recorded 14 kills and only three miscues. ULM's fourth-set hitting percentage of .324 stands as a match-high.
 
Tied at three points apiece, Worley registered a kill off the set from Jenkins to give the Warhawks the lead, which would hold for the remainder of the match. ULM sparked its longest run of the match to take a 16-6 lead, which concluded with back-to-back service aces from Jenkins.
 
The Warhawks went on to win the fourth set in a 25-19 decision, Assaley was credited with winning set four with a kill off a Ragin' Cajun serve and the assist from Jenkins.
 
Unfortunately, ULM could not stop the aggressive attack of the Ragin' Cajuns in the final set and fell 15-11. The Warhawks (10-17, 2-11) have played only four five-set matches this season, with the loss to the Ragin' Cajuns being their third loss.