LAFAYETTE, La. – The ULM volleyball team traveled to Lafayette for a rematch with in-state rival Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday and fell to the Cajuns, 3-0.
"We gave ourselves chances to score, but we just couldn't capitalize," head coach Charlie Olson said.
The Ragin' Cajuns (12-15, 8-6 Sun Belt) jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start set one before Cali Assaley nailed a kill to give the Warhawks (11-19, 1-13 Sun Belt) their first point of the set. Kills by Mikaela Worley and Ina Gosen helped ULM claw their way back into the fray. Another kill by Assaley, followed by an ace by Darby Fisher and a kill by Worley gave ULM an 8-7 lead.
"I thought we served them pretty well, but we just couldn't put the ball away," Olson said.
The two teams traded points until the Ragin' Cajuns went on a 3-0 run to take the lead, 13-10. The Ragin' Cajuns kept the lead until a kill by Gosen stopped the Cajun attack briefly. However, the Ragin' Cajuns held on for a 25-17 set one win.
Kills by Assaley and Kate Blasingame gave ULM its first points of set two before the Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 10-4 lead and caused the Warhawks to call a timeout. ULM used the break to its advantage and a block by Blasingame and Alix Christie was the catalyst for the Warhawks to go on a 10-2 run to tie the set up at 12.
The Ragin' Cajuns took the lead again, but ULM held fast and stayed with the Cajuns. It wasn't enough as the Ragin' Cajuns won set two, 25-20.
The Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 5-1 lead in set three and cruised on to a 12-4 lead. A kill by Blasingame briefly stopped the Cajuns' momentum. Laruen Appelman, Assaley, Worley and Christie all gained kills during the set, but the Ragin' Cajuns rode their momentum to a 25-12 set three win.
"We have one final push up in Arkansas," Olson said. "We have very good notes on these two teams and they're beatable teams, but they are both playing on their home court and that's always tough."
The Warhawks will remain on the road and travel to Little Rock for a matchup at 6:30 p.m. on Friday against the Trojans.
Links to live coverage, including video and stats, for Friday's game 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.
