MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team dropped the opening two matches of a three-match series with visiting UT Arlington Friday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Mavericks won the first match, 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 25-16), before taking the second, 3-0 (28-26, 25-14, 25-17).
"Overall, a pretty solid day from us," ULM head volleyball coach Charlie Olson said. "The focus we've had in practice this week definitely carried over into the matches."
In the first match, UT Arlington controlled the opening set from the start. Four straight attack errors by ULM allowed the Mavericks to build a quick 6-1 lead. The Warhawks were never closer than three points, at 8-5, for the rest of the set as the Mavericks cruised to the 25-15 win.
In the second set, ULM was sharper. The Warhawks scored the first five points of the set, using kills from senior Alix Christie and junior Cali Assaley, a service ace from senior Haley Coulter, and a block from Christie and Assaley. UTA closed as close as two at 6-4, but ULM had an answer for every Maverick charge, stretching the lead out to six at 13-7 on a block by Coulter and Christie. The Warhawks maintained their lead and rolled to a 25-20 win.
The Warhawks maintained the momentum into the third set, building a quick 5-2 lead. UTA answered with five straight points to take the lead at 8-6. ULM answered back, scoring seven of the next eight points to grab a 13-9 lead and force a UTA timeout. The Warhawks pushed the lead to 17-13 on a kill by Assaley, but Assaley was injured on the play and did not return to the match.
UTA turned the momentum in their favor, scoring four consecutive points to tie the set at 17. ULM pushed the lead back to three at 21-18 on a kill by Coulter and two by sophomore Kathryn Raschilla. The Mavericks answered again, going on a 7-1 run to rally for the set victory, 25-22.
The Mavericks carried the momentum into the fourth set, scoring eight of the first 11 points to lead 8-3. ULM closed within three at 9-6 off a UTA service error, and again at 15-12 and 16-13 on kills by Christie and senior Ina Gosen, respectively. However, the Mavericks would not allow ULM any closer, closing out the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.
Coulter led ULM with 12 kills, while junior McKinley Thiede added 19 kills and sophomore Madeline Hogan chipped in 18 digs.
"I thought Hogan played solid all day and I also thought our middles, Catherine (Griffith) and Alix (Christie), did a heck of a job opening up our offense," Olson said.
The first set of the second match was the tightest set of the day. ULM sprinted out to a 7-3 lead on a kill by Coulter. UTA tied the match at 8, but ULM quickly regained the lead on a service error and a kill by Christie. The Warhawks maintained the lead, going up by as much as five at 18-13, until UTA tied the set at 21. ULM regained the lead at 22-21 and 23-22, but UTA would not go away. The Mavericks scored back-to-back points to go up 24-23, but couldn't convert on set point as Raschilla earned a kill. A Warhawk attack error allowed UTA another set point at 25-24 but again ULM answered with a kill by Thiede to tie the match at 25. The Warhawks picked up a service ace from Emma McWhorter to go up 26-25 and earn a chance at set point. However, UTA responded to knot the set at 26, and then used a service ace and a kill to take the set, 28-26.
The second set was back-and-forth to start, with ULM leading briefly at 6-5 on a kill by senior Catherine Griffith. UTA rattled off five straight points to gain some separation at 10-6. ULM pulled within two at 10-8 on a kill by Gosen, but UTA scored nine of the next 10 points to pull away and take the second set, 25-14.
The final set was all UTA. The Mavericks rolled out to a 9-3 lead, forcing a Warhawk timeout. ULM was no closer than five points the rest of the way, as UTA took the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-0.
Coulter and Gosen led ULM with nine kills each. Thiede had 18 assists while Hogan tallied 11 digs.
"I will say that we are tired and extremely sore, as is UTA," Olson said. "Lots of long rallies and lots of quality defense. I'm looking forward to one more tomorrow, and hope we can capitalize on some positive momentum."
The Warhawks and Mavericks wrap up the series at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. A link to live stats is available on the volleyball schedule page at ULMWarhawks.com.
