BOONE, N.C. – The ULM volleyball team looked to be on the verge of a set one win, when the Mountaineers of Appalachian State dealt an offense attack on the Warhawks that led to a 27-25 set one win. ULM was unable to recover from the loss and dropped sets two and three in the Sun Belt loss.
 
The Warhawks (7-9, 0-3) pulled ahead in set one after a kill by senior middle blocker Taylor Wood shook the Mountaineers enough to force back-to-back attack errors and give ULM a 16-12 lead mid-way through the set.
 
ULM committed three errors of its own, late in the set, which gave Appalachian State the chance to tie the score at 21-21. The two teams then went back and forth until a kill by Mountaineer Melissa McMath sealed the deal for App State.
 
"We came out really strong in the first set and were playing really well," said head volleyball coach Russ Friedland. "Just a few too many errors and we let it slip which I think deflated us a little heading into the second. Like I've been saying, we have what it takes to win, we've just got to find ways to string it together for longer periods of time."
 
The Warhawks trailed for the entirety of the second set, despite hitting a match-best .240. The ULM defense was able to keep the Mountaineers hitting .140 or less in sets one and three, but could not stop a clean attack from Appalachian State in the second set. App State committed only five errors in the entire second set.
 
ULM and Appalachian State were dead even on blocks with seven each, but the Warhawks managed only 26 kills over the match, with senior opposite Sarah Woods leading the team with seven.
 
"Sarah Woods did a great job for us tonight," said Friedland. "She's really turned it up as the season progresses. Taylor [Wood] continues to be a great presence at the net and proved that again tonight."
 
The Warhawks' 26 kills marked the sixth time this season ULM was unable to surpass the 30-kill mark, ULM did not win a single set in those matches.
 
Wood earned five blocks in the loss, while Alabany Schaffer rounded out defensive play for the Warhawks with 13 digs.
 
Set three was a poor showing from both teams, who each recorded a negative hitting percentage at the conclusion.
 
The Mountaineers had the upper hand in service aces, tallying 10 against the Warhawks. ULM on the other hand, had only one service error, the lowest stat of the season.
 
ULM had six Warhawks with kills tonight, in addition to Woods and Wood. Catherine Griffith, Mikaela Worley, Cali Assaley, and Lauren Appleman also took their turns attacking at the net.
 
"Tomorrow we get back to work when we get to Coastal and continue to grind. I trust that this team will respond well to tonight and come out with some fire Sunday afternoon," Friedland said.
 
The Warhawks will get back on the road and travel to Conway, S.C. to face Sun Belt opponent Coastal Carolina on Sunday. First serve is set for 11:30 am (CT).