MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team dropped its home match against the Arkansas State Red Wolves, 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-22), Sunday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks were competitive through all four sets of their midday matchup with a total of 30 ties and 12 lead changes in the match.
"We stuck with a similar lineup that we used Friday and that lead to more confidence, cleaner play and we're really starting to get our middles involved," ULM head coach Charlie Olson said. "We put up a really good fight against a great Arkansas State team."
ULM jumped out in front early in the first set of play. The Warhawks held off A-State for much of the matchup and kept the Red Wolves from taking a multi-point lead until late in the game at 19-17. The Warhawks scored four unanswered to close out the set, 25-22, off of a block assist by freshmen Avery Cole and Madeline Villarreal.
In set two, ULM and A-State kept the same pace for the first half of play. After tying the game at 13, the Red Wolves scored 12 of the next 14 points as they ran away with set two, 25-15.
The offensive effort by ULM was halted by the Red Wolves initially in set three. A-State had a 13-6 lead when ULM gained momentum. The Warhawks tied the game up at 16 and remained within five points for the remainder of the game. A-State reached set point at 24-19 but ULM nearly mounted a comeback with a scoring run. The run was capped off with kills from junior Kathryn Raschilla and Cole, but the Red Wolves put the game away, 25-23, just before ULM could extend the set.
With the game on the line in set four, both teams kept pace with the largest lead being just three points. Once again ULM tried to find their way back into the game late but could not chain together a run to force set five.
ULM had 12 blocks in the contest. Villarreal accounted for six of the team's blocks. Cole recorded eight kills to go along with her five blocks.
Freshman Kailey Friedrich dished out 17 assists and junior Darby Fisher had 16. Freshman Kaitlin Davis recorded 22 digs in the contest. Freshman Phoebe Stigen led with 14 kills for the Warhawks and earned praise from Olson.
"We've worked with (Stigen) with coming out of her shell as a freshman outside hitter," Olson said. "We've allowed her to make some mistakes which has helped her improve."
ULM hosts the Ragin' Cajuns at 6 p.m. Tuesday to finish off their three-game homestand in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
