MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team made an aggressive second set push in Friday night's Sun Belt match up against Arkansas State, but ultimately fell to the Red Wolves in three sets (25-21, 29-27, 25-19). The Warhawks will close out the 2018 season tomorrow (Nov. 10) at 6:30 p.m. when they host Little Rock.
 
"We fought with a lot of grit tonight," said head volleyball coach Russ Friedland. "We came up with some nice performances but lacked offense from the right side tonight. If we can add that to our game for tomorrow, I think we'll see a different result."
 
The first set went back and forth between the Warhawks and the Red Wolves before ASU pulled away with the 25-21 set one win. The score would tie five times before a ULM service error would give Arkansas State a one-point 17-16 lead that would hold until the end of the set.
 
Both teams finished the night hitting .200 or better at the net. ULM hit a team-best .233 in the first set, .186 in the second, and closed out with a .206 hitting percentage in the third. The Warhawks and Red Wolves each committed 17 errors on the night, but Arkansas State recorded 47 kills to ULM's 39, giving them the advantage and a cumulative .286 hitting percentage.
 
A thrilling second set looked to be the Warhawks chance to tie the match at one set apiece. ULM built a 13-9 lead after an attack error by ASU gave the Warhawks the serve; ULM capitalized on the point and added three more with kills from Taylor Wood and Cali Assaley and a service ace from Tara Jenkins.
 
Arkansas State used a short, three-point scoring run late in the set to take a 23-22 lead. The teams then went back and forth, battling for the set point until ASU earned back-to-back kills from Madison Turner and Isabel Theut, giving them the 29-27 win in extra points.
 
ULM jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the third set, looking to bounce back from the two-set deficit, but Arkansas State had other plans, sparking an eight-point rally. Now trailing 12-9, the Warhawks struggled to maintain control of the serve, unable to rally more than two points at a time. Kills by Mikaela Worley and Kate Blasingame would help ULM earn some late points in the set, but it wasn't enough and the Warhawks fell 25-19 in the final set.
 
"I've said it before, I love how this team battles together. They battle with each other, for each other," said Friedland. "There were some true moments of greatness on our side of the net. When we are on, we are fun to watch. I'm excited to see how we respond tomorrow night. We have a great afternoon planned to celebrate our seniors leading into our final match of the season"
 
Worley led the Warhawks with 15 kills, followed by Blasingame and Catherine Griffith who recorded nine and eight kills respectively. Senior setters Jenkins and Presleigh Williams combined for 31 of ULM's 36 assists.
 
On the defense, Blasingame managed 11 digs for the Warhawks and two block assists. Combined, ULM totaled 41 digs in the loss and four blocks.
 
Seniors Taylor Wood, Tara Jenkins, Presleigh Williams, and Sarah Woods will be celebrated during Senior Ceremonies prior to the start of tomorrow's match as they step onto the court one last time in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.