NEW ORLEANS, La. – The ULM beach volleyball team split the opening day of the New Orleans Invitational on Friday, March 6. After posting a 5-0 win over Nicholls State in the first match, the Warhawks fell by the same margin to intrastate foe and No. 20 Tulane in the afternoon at the Digs Volleyball Complex at the University of New Orleans campus.
Match 1: ULM 5, Nicholls State 0
The Warhawks picked up their fifth win in the all-time series, all of which have come in 5-0 fashion. The match began with a decisive two-set victory by the fourth-seeded ULM pair of
Elizabeth Moreland and
Abbie Elder, who downed Katie Jones and Bailey Lyons by scores of 21-10 and 21-5.
That was followed by a 21-5, 21-9 victory from ULM's No. 5 seeded tandem
Bailey Smith and
Allie Kemp, who defeated Meghan Wozniak and Lilly Bivens. The Warhawks earned the team victory when
Grace Convey and
Kayla Gallant, paired as the No. 2 seed, responded with a dominating 21-14, 21-8 victory over Kylie Lockhart and Jackie Alanis.
The tandem of
Gabby Love and
Julia Blazek picked up the fourth point for the Warhawks in the match, posting a 21-15, 21-13 win over Emily Venable and Emily Guthreaux in a clash of No. 1 seeds. The pairing of
Audrey Brooks and
Holland Ponthieux provided the Warhawks with the sweep when they took down No. 3 seeded Devon Bright and Jaida Felix by scores of 21-9 and 21-17.
Match 2: Tulane 5, ULM 0
Tulane claimed its sixth straight win in the series against the Warhawks by virtue of a 5-0 win in the afternoon session, which moved ULM to 3-8 overall and 0-5 in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association action. It marks the third shutout by the ranked Green Wave in the last six head-to-head meetings.
The match began with fourth-seeded Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman earning a 21-16, 21-7 victory against ULM's
Elizabeth Moreland and
Abbie Elder. That was shortly followed by a 21-17, 21-13 win by Tulane's tandem of Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra, who downed
Bailey Smith and
Allie Kemp in a battle of No. 5 seeds.
With a 2-0 lead in hand, Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella clinched the team victory for the Green Wave with a 21-9, 21-10 victory of fellow No. 2 seed
Grace Convey and
Kayla Gallant. The Tulane lead ballooned to 4-0 after a 21-11, 21-15 win by Tarin Mergener and Kendall Peters, who defeated
Gabby Love and
Julia Blazek.
The Green Wave (6-3, 2-1 CCSA) completed the sweep of ULM after No. 3 seeds Ashton Mares and Ellie Leitko triumphed 21-9, 21-10 over
Audrey Brooks and
Holland Ponthieux.
The Warhawks return to the court on Saturday, March 7, to face Spring Hill (1 p.m.) and Southern Miss (3 p.m.).
ULM 5, Nicholls State 0
3/6/2020 at Covington, La.
(Digs Volleyball Complex)
1.
Gabby Love/
Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Emily Venable/Emily Gauthreaux (NICH) 21-15, 21-13
2.
Grace Convey/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) def. Kylie Lockhart/Jackie Alanis (NICH) 21-14, 21-8
3.
Audrey Brooks/
Holland Ponthieux (ULM) def. Devon Bright/Jaida Felix (NICH) 21-9, 21-17
4.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Abbie Elder (ULM) def. Katie Jones/Bailey Lyons (NICH) 21-18, 21-15
5.
Bailey Smith/
Allie Kemp (ULM) def. Meghan Wozniak/Lilly Bivens (NICH) 21-10, 21-5
Ext. McKay, Katie/Gosen, Ina (ULM) def. Rebecka Bollinger/Ja'Mya Holmes (NICH) 21-5, 21-9
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,2,1,3)
Tulane 5, ULM 0
3/6/2020 at Covington, La.
(Digs Volleyball Complex)
1. Tarin Mergener/Kendall Peters (Tulane) def.
Gabby Love/
Julia Blazek (ULM) 21-11, 21-15
2. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (Tulane) def.
Grace Convey/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-9, 21-10
3. Ashton Mares/Ellie Leitko (Tulane) def.
Audrey Brooks/
Holland Ponthieux (ULM) 21-19, 21-18
4. Addison Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Abbie Elder (ULM) 21-16, 21--7
5. Rio Frohoff / Gabriella Becerra (Tulane) def.
Bailey Smith/
Allie Kemp (ULM) 21-17, 21-13
Order of finish: 4,5,2,1,3
