MONROE, La. - The ULM Warhawks open a six-match home stand starting with a 6 p.m. matchup on Friday against Arkansas State before turning around and taking on Little Rock at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches will take place at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
"We control our own destiny," head coach Charlie Olson said. "Our plan is to take it one match at a time and go from there."
The Warhawks (10-13, 1-7 Sun Belt) will be led by Mikaela Worley, who is averaging 3.19 kills per set. Worley will be joined by Kate Blasingame, who leads the team with 25 service aces and is averaging 2.67 kills per set and 2.96 digs per set.
They will be joined by McKinley Thiede, who leads the team with 5.36 assists per set along with Alix Christie and Ina Gosen. Christie and Gosen have a combined 91 blocks.
ULM will start the weekend against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves (12-7, 3-4 Sun Belt) are coming off a 3-0 sweep over Little Rock and is the only Sun Belt team this season to defeat Texas State. They have not lost in three-set matches, but haven't done as well when the game goes longer.
"It's a priority for us to take the first set," Olson said. "Our tale has been the first set dictates how the night is going to be. If we can have the first set go our way, it changes the way we play emotionally and physically and gives us the momentum in the later sets."
Arkansas State will be led by Macey Putt, who is averaging 2.97 kills per set and Kendahl Davenport, who leads the team with 63 blocks.
"They're taking care of business at the net and not allowing teams to take advantage of them," Olson said.
Other key players include setters Julianna Cramer and Malgorzala Andersohn. Cramer is averaging 5.55 assists per set and Andersohn is averaging 4.46 assists per set. They will be joined by Peyton Uhlenhake, who has 22 service aces and Hannah Cox, who is averaging 4.16 digs per set.
After taking on the Red Wolves, the Warhawks will face off with Little Rock. The Trojans (3-16, 1-6 Sun Belt) were recently swept by Arkansas State, but got their first conference win against Appalachian State.
"We can't take any team in this conference lightly," Olson said. "This is Division I volleyball and you have to compete for every single win."
Little Rock will be led by Carol Barbosa and Diana Giordani. Barbosa is averaging 3.40 kills per set and Giordani is averaging 4.05 digs per set.
"Barbosa will get her kills, but we have to make sure she isn't having a highlight reel against us," Olson said.
They will be joined by Nathalia Vigireski and Alyssa Nayar. Vigireski is averaging 4.56 assists per set and Nayar is averaging 3.83 assists per set and owns 12 service aces. Larua Jansen also has 12 service aces and Madison Nichols has recorded 41 blocks.
"We're going to do our job to defend the nest and we have to execute our game plans," Olson said.
Links to live coverage, including video and stats, for Friday's game against Arkansas State and Saturday's match against Little Rock 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.
