NEW ORLEANS, La. – The ULM beach volleyball team endured a pair of five-set matches in the second day of action at the New Orleans Invitational.
ULM began the afternoon with a 3-2 setback to Spring Hill and wrapped up the event with a 3-2 loss to Southern Miss. The losses move the Warhawks to 4-10 on the season.
MATCH 1: Spring Hill 3, ULM 2
Spring Hill earned its second win in seven meetings against the Warhawks by a one-point margin in the opening match of the afternoon.
The Badgers took the early 1-0 lead in the match when the fourth-seeded duo of Cassidi Sterrett and Sarah Senft posted a 21-12, 21-16 victory over
Elizabeth Moreland and
Bailey Smith. That deficit quickly became 2-0 for the Warhawks when Leanne Sorrel and Taylor Hurst claimed a 23-25, 24-22, 15-7 win against
Ina Gosen and
Katie McKay.
Behind the play of No. 1 seeds
Gabby Love and
Julia Blazek, ULM cut the margin to 2-1 with a 21-19, 21-10 victory over Payton Gidney and Mikayla Boyer. The Warhawks followed that by even the match with a 15-21, 21-8, 15-9 win by
Audrey Brooks and
Holland Ponthieux, who downed Emmarose Neibert and Allison Weimer.
The Badgers second-seeded duo of Brittaly Bilotti and Kassandra Fairly retaliated from an opening set loss to triumph over ULM's
Grace Convey and
Kayla Gallant.
MATCH 1: Southern Miss 3, ULM 2
Southern Miss claimed its second win of the season against the Warhawks, who they defeated in 4-1 fashion on Feb. 24.
Kinsley Hanback and Kellie Garraway opened the match with a 21-13, 21-19 victory over the Warhawk fifth-seeded unit of
Ina Gosen and
Katie McKay, giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 advantage. ULM responded with a 21-16, 21-15 win by the No. 4 combo of
Elizabeth Moreland and
Bailey Smith, who downed Breleigh Favre and Olivia Hepworth.
With the match even at 1-1, second-seeded
Grace Convey and
Kayla Gallant provided the Warhawks with a one-point advantage following a 17-21, 21-16, 15-12 lead over Piper Matsumoto and Madison Lawler. However, the lead evaporated when Southern Miss' No. 1 pair of Kylie Grandy and Abbey Wilson completed a 21-17, 19-21, 15-10 over
Julia Blazek and
Gabby Love.
With the match on the line, the No. 3 seeded Golden Eagle tandem of Hallien Phelan and Haley Hop overcame a first set loss to down
Audrey Brooks and
Holland Ponthieux by scores of 11-21, 21-14 and 15-12.
ULM will remain in state for next weekend's LSU Beach Invitational, hosted by the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
Spring Hill 3, ULM 2
3/7/2020 at Covington, La. (Digs Volleyball Complex)
1. Love, Gabby/Blazek, Julia (ULM) def. Payton Gidney/Mikayla Boyer (SPRSVB) 21-19, 21-10
2. Brittany Bilotti/Kassandra Fairly (SPRSVB) def. Convey, Grace/Gallant, Kayla (ULM) 14-21, 21-18, 15-10
3. Brooks, Audrey/Ponthieux, Holland (ULM) def. Emmarose Neibert/Allison Weimer (SPRSVB) 15-21, 21-8, 15-9
4. Cassidi Sterrett/Sarah Senft (SPRSVB) def. Moreland, Elizabeth/Smith, Bailey (ULM) 21-12, 21-16
5. Leanne Sorrel/Taylor Hurst (SPRSVB) def. Gosen, Ina/McKay, Katie (ULM) 23-25, 24-22, 15-7
Ext. Aydt, Destanie/Lemmon, Samantha (ULM) def. Patty Blood/Ryann Horkavy (SPRSVB) 18-21, 21-17, 15-12
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,1,3,2)
Southern Miss. 3, ULM 2
3/7/2020 at Covington, La. (Digs Volleyball Complex)
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USMBVB) def. Blazek, Julia/Love, Gabby (ULM) 21-17, 19-21, 15-10
2. Convey, Grace/Gallant, Kayla (ULM) def. Piper Matsumoto/Madison Lawler (USMBVB) 17-21, 21-16, 15-12
3. Hallie Phelan/Haley Hop (USMBVB) def. Brooks, Audrey/Ponthieux, Holland (ULM) 11-21, 21-14, 15-12
4. Moreland, Elizabeth/Smith, Bailey (ULM) def. Breleigh Favre/Olivia Hepworth (USMBVB) 21-16, 21-15
5. Kinsley Hanback/Kellie Garraway (USMBVB) def. Gosen, Ina/McKay, Katie (ULM) 21-10, 21-10
Ext. Lindsey Smith/Kaile Tuisamatatele (USMBVB) def. Aydt, Destanie/Hoven, Brooke (ULM) 21-13, 21-19
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,2,1,3)
