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ULM Beach Volleyball Opens Bayou Bash with Wins Over Nicholls & TAMUK

ULM Beach Volleyball Opens Bayou Bash with Wins Over Nicholls & TAMUK

Beach Volleyball Mar 22
MONROE, La. – The ULM beach volleyball team opened the Bayou Bash with a pair of wins over Nicholls State (5-0) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-2) on Friday, March 22, halting a three-match losing streak as the Warhawks improved to 11-7 on the season.
 
Match 1 Recap: ULM 5, Nicholls State 0
ULM began Friday's morning session with a 5-0 victory over Nicholls State.
 
The No. 5 pairing of Bailey Smith and Holland Ponthieux helped the Warhawks get off to a hot start with a 21-11, 21-16 victory over Aailyah Burras and Sydney Swann. Elizabeth Moreland and Allie Kemp picked up the second ULM point of the day with a 21-16, 21-17 triumph over the Colonels' Maddie Lowe and Katie Jones at the fourth flight.
 
ULM secured the match when the No. 2 pairing of Catherine Griffith and Maile Sellers posted a 21-9, 21-15 win over Emily Gauthreaux and Kylie Lockhart. The Warhawks quickly increased the lead to 4-0 as Tamara Merseli and Kayla Gallant defeated Emily Venable and Meghan Wozniak by scores of 21-7, 21-13 at the third flight.
 
The court one duo of Grace Convey and Gabby Love completed the Warhawks' fifth sweep of the season with a 21-18, 21-16 victory over Emily Weimer and Jennifer Olivarez.
 
"It was a well-rounded match overall," ULM head coach Sara Rishell said. "We handled our business early in the sets but became complacent at the end. Luckily, we were able to come out on top in two sets across the board. We got a team sweep from ones to sixes."
 
Match 1: ULM 5, NSU 0
Court 1: Grace Convey/Gabby Love (ULM) def. Emily Weimer/Jennifer Olivarez (NSU), 21-18, 21-16
Court 2: Catherine Griffith/Maile Sellers (ULM) def. Emily Gauthreaux/Kylie Lockhart (NSU), 21-9, 21-15
Court 3: Tamara Merseli/Kayla Gallant (ULM) def. Emily Venable/Meghan Wozniak (NSU), 21-7, 21-13
Court 4: Elizabeth Moreland/Allie Kemp (ULM) def. Maddie Lowe/Katie Jones (NSU), 21-16, 21-17
Court 5: Bailey Smith/Holland Ponthieux (ULM) def. Aaliyah Burras/Sydney Swann (NSU), 21-11, 21-16
Exh.: Emma Vann/Katie McKay (ULM) def. Kimberly Iwunze/Lydia Frederick (NSU), 21-6, 21-8
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
 
 
Match 2 Recap: ULM 3, TAMUK 2
ULM picked up its second win of the season over the Javelinas by a 3-2 final and finished the opening day of the Bayou Bash with a 2-0 record.
 
The Warhawks grabbed the first point of the match as Elizabeth Moreland and Allie Kemp prevailed over TaylorLynn Noga and Melanie Casteel, 21-9, 21-17, at the fourth flight. TAMUK quickly tied the match at 1-1 when Nicole Murff and Christina Gragasin completed a 21-15, 21-15 win against Bailey Smith and Holland Ponthieux on court five.
 
Catherine Griffith and Maile Sellers moved the Warhawks back in front with a 21-15, 21-13 victory over Madison Brabham and Kylexus Block on court two. However, the Javelinas' duo of Tenley Housler and Whitney Walker answered with a hard-fought three-set win on court one over ULM's Grace Convey and Gabby Love, 12-21, 21-18, 15-11, to even the match at 2-2.
 
With the match hinging on the decision on court three, ULM's combination of Tamara Merseli and Kayla Gallant came through with a three-set victory over Haley Hutchinson and Macy Berg by scores of 22-20, 19-21 and 15-7.
 
"Maile Sellers and Catherine Griffith played phenomenally well," Rishell said. "I'm so proud of Maile for staying controlled behind Catherine's big block. We had a specific game plan against Kingsville, and they executed it to a T.
 
"Elizabeth and Allie played the best they have played all year. They have spent so much time getting their partnership on the court solid, and that really showed today.
 
"Tamara and Kayla were put in a position they have been in all season … team score tied 2-2 and forced to a third set. They absolutely conquered their third set while finding that thin line between calm and intense.
 
"Tomorrow is a new day, and we will have to bring the heat in order to have the same 2-0 results we did today," Rishell continued.
 
"I'd like to personally thank everyone that helped set up our tournament, and for all of the support we felt today. We had multiple sports teams represented, from administration to coaches to players. I'm very proud of the support from ULM Athletics."
 
The two-day, four-match tournament concludes on Saturday, March 23 when the Warhawks face Texas A&M-Kingsville at 11 a.m. and then return to face Nicholls State at 3 p.m.
 
Match 3: ULM 3, Texas A&M-Kingsville 2
Court 1: Tenley Housler/Whitney Walker (TAMUK) def. Grace Convey/Gabby Love (ULM), 12-21, 21-18, 15-11
Court 2: Catherine Griffith/Maile Sellers (ULM) def. Madison Brabham/Kylexus Block (TAMUK), 21-15, 21-13
Court 3: Tamara Merseli/Kayla Gallant (ULM) def. Haley Hutchinson/Macy Berg (TAMUK), 22-20, 19-21, 15-7
Court 4: Elizabeth Moreland/Allie Kemp (ULM) def. TaylorLynn Noga/Melanie Casteel (TAMUK), 21-9, 21-17
Court 5: Nicole Murff/Christina Gragasin (TAMUK) def. Bailey Smith/Holland Ponthieux (ULM), 21-15, 21-15
Exh.: Katie McKay/Emma Vann (ULM) def. Shelby Tate/Lauren Kadilis (TAMUK), 21-15, 15-21, 15-13
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 2, 1, 3
 
 
 
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