MONROE, La.- With a brand new volleyball season just days away, new ULM head coach Charlie Olson will lead his squad into battle against Northwestern State in an exhibition match at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Olson was hired on Aug. 7 and has hit the ground running with his new team.
Last year, the Warhawks increased their wins from five to 11 and finished the season at 11-19 overall and 3-13 in the Sun Belt conference.
"You get the sense from other programs on this campus that there is a change coming and we are part of that change," Olson said. "We want to lead the change."
ULM will be led by returners Catherine Griffith, Albany Schaffer, Kate Blasingame and Katie McKay.
Griffith finished the 2018 season with 235 kills, 14 service aces, 28 solo blocks and 72 block assists. Griffith also was selected as Second-Team All-Louisiana and garnered all-tournament recognition during the Redhawk Invitational.
Blasingame finished the season with 205 kills, 289 digs and 35 block assists. Blasingame was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Week and received all-tournament recognition during the Tiger Invitational. Schaffer also received all-tournament recognition during the Tiger Invitational and ended the season with 37 assists, 16 service aces and 259 digs.
McKay ended the season with 63 assists, 14 service aces and 295 digs.
ULM also returns McKinley Thiede, who ended the season with 142 assists, and Mikaela Worley, who finished with 149 kills. The Warhawks also added six new freshmen to the team and added transfer Chloe Carenza from Indiana State, where she recorded 179 digs in her career there.
"We are a deep team and that's an awesome thing to have," Olson said. "It's a long season and at the end of the day, it's going to come down to who's working harder."
However, before the season can officially begin, the Warhawks must host a tough Northwestern State team.
NSU has made the Southland Conference tournament in each of the past three seasons and has been picked to finish in seventh place this season.
"They are a very talented team that we're excited to bring in and compete against," Olson said. "Their head coach is extremely technical. He can pinpoint areas of your game that will help them score easy points."
NSU returns four starters from last year, including Hannah Brister, who led the team in kills and was named to the Southland Conference Preseason First-Team.
"Brister is very, very talented," Olson said. "I've played against her for the past two years, so that helps us for this weekend."
Olson and his staff are excited for the possibilities this season and ready for the challenge.
"This is a new identity and a new season," Olson said. "And that's fun."
Visit ULMWarhawks.com for the latest on Warhawk volleyball. You can also find ULM volleyball on Facebook and Twitter at @ULM_VB.
