ATLANTA, Ga. – After sweeping the competition on day one of GSU's Diggin' Duals, ULM's beach volleyball team was unable to keep its engine running on Saturday morning (Mar.24) as they fell to North Florida (4-1) and No.9 Georgia State (3-2).
"We knew heading into today that the competition would be tough, but we were ready for it," said head beach volleyball coach
Russ Friedland. "We are still getting better every time we play; as individuals and as a team."
The Warhawks (7-8) are showing increasingly more potential as the year progresses, earning game wins against top-ranked teams week after week.
Maile Sellers and
Kayla Gallant earned win number three in Atlanta, beating out UNF's Brittany Pase and Callie Workman (29-27, 21-10).
"Maile and Kayla played really clean volleyball to pick up the one win over UNF, they've been synching up really well in the sand and its nice to see them get that win," Friedland said.
Graduate
Rebecca Brown and junior
Catherine Griffith fell for only the fourth time this season, to North Florida's Taryn Griffey and Chaney Howard. Brown and Griffith took Griffey and Howard to the end in each set, falling 21-19, 22-20.
Brown and Griffith bounced back against No.9 Georgia State, beating out Panthers Mattie Johnson and Meagan McCall (21-18, 21-15).
"I'm really proud of how we showed up against Georgia State," Friedland commented. "Cat and Becca played really well against GSU's threes, going toe-to-toe with
On court one, Junior
Bailey Smith and freshman
Taylor Meyer were the first to defeated a pair from Georgia State when they beat out Kate Novack and Bekah Brodbeck (21-19, 29-27).
Friedland's confidence in Smith and Meyer as a pair continues to grow after each match, "Taylor and Bailey pulled out a gritty win at the four's. Being a new pairing, they are finding their groove and I'm happy with how they performed together."
Sellers and Gallant could not complete the weekend sweep, falling to GSU's Tiffany Creamer and Brooke Weiner (21-10, 21-12).
Like Sellers and Gallant, Junior
Gabby Love and sophomore
Grace Convey also finished the weekend 3-1, defeating sisters Teegan and Annika Van Gunst of Georgia State (21-16, 21-13).
The Sandyhawks will face No.17 Tulane for the second time this season, as ULM travels to New Orleans over spring break. The Warhawks will take a week off before matching up against the Green Wave on April 4
th.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Sandyhawks throughout their season on Twitter at @ULM_beachVB and on Instagram at @ULM_VB.
