BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – ULM's beach volleyball team is headed back to Monroe with their heads held high, although dropping its third and final contest to No.17 Tulane today (Mar.17), in a 3-2 decision, on day two of the Blazer Beach Duals hosted by UAB.
"This team keeps improving day by day," said head beach volleyball coach
Russ Friedland. "Tulane is an extremely strong program and I'm proud of them for coming away with wins on two courts; we fought hard today and I'm proud of this team for battling until the end."
After finishing up on courts four and five, the Warhawks would find themselves trailing 0-2 and stuck in a lightning delay before the other courts could resume play.
The weather delay must have been just enough time for ULM to regroup, because pairs
Catherine Griffith and Becca Brown, and
Maile Sellers and
Kayla Gallant both took down their Green Wave counter parts on courts two and three.
Griffith and Brown bounced back from their loss against UAB on day one with a straight-set win over Tulane's Rio Frohoff and Ashley Delgado (23-21, 21-16).
"Cat and Becca bounced back really well today and Kayla and Maile were such a great pair to watch play," Friedland said. "They truly enjoy the game and its evident to anyone watching."
The Green Wave would clinch the win with a win on court one, as
Gabby Love and
Grace Convey fell to Tulane's top pair Maddie Hertz and Kaylie McHugh (21-14, 21-6).
Sellers and Gallants' three-set win on court two would give ULM its final point, as the duo defeated Tulane pair Lan Nguyen and Tarin Mergener (21-18, 16-21, 15-12).
The Warhawks will be back in action next week in Atlanta, Georgia at Georgia State's Diggin' Duals (Mar.23-24). Fans are encouraged to follow the Sandyhawks throughout their season on Twitter at @ULM_beachVB and on Instagram at @ULM_VB.
