ATLANTA, Ga. - The ULM Warhawks were unable to complete a road sweep in Georgia, falling to Georgia State, 3-0, on Friday night at the GSU Sports Arena.
"Tonight, we failed to get our offense going until late in the match," head coach Charlie Olson said. "Georgia State did a very good job of playing clean volleyball and keeping us out of system."
Lauren Appelman started things off for the Warhawks (10-13, 1-7 Sun Belt) with a kill to tie set one up at two. A service ace by Ina Gosen gave ULM a one-point lead. The Panthers (7-11, 3-4 Sun Belt) jumped out to a 7-4 lead, but kills by Mikaela Worley and Kate Blasingame tied the set up at seven.
Another ace by Gosen gave the Warhawks an 11-10 lead. ULM managed to keep a slight lead for the majority of the set before Georgia State came back and took a 22-21 lead. Worley nailed a kill to tie the set at 22, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers took set one, 26-24.
Worley gained the first point of set two for the Warhawks with a kill before Georgia State rolled on to an 11-4 lead. A kill by Alix Christie stopped the Panthers' momentum briefly and back-to-back kills by Worley brought ULM within eight. However, Georgia State never let off the gas and rolled to a 25-14 set two win.
"We couldn't keep the energy we had from the Georgia Southern match and it showed," Olson said. "We came into this game a little flat."
A kill by Gosen started the Warhawks on the right path in the third set. Two kills by Christie, followed by back-to-back kills by Emma Vann gave ULM an 8-3 lead. The Panthers made a comeback and took an 11-10 lead.
Georgia State controlled the majority of the set, but back-to-back kills by Worley brought the Warhawks within five. The Panthers didn't look back and won set three, 25-22.
"We will do a better job in preparation for the next match and we are more than excited to be back home for six straight matches," Olson said.
The Warhawks will return home for a 6 p.m. matchup on Friday against Arkansas State.
Links to live coverage, including video and stats, for Friday's game against Arkansas State can be found on the volleyball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com. Follow along with all things Warhawk Volleyball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @ULM_VB.
