ULM Warhawks

FORT WORTH, Texas – The ULM beach volleyball split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Fight for the Fort, hosted by TCU, on Friday, March 19. After suffering a 5-0 setback to the 10th-ranked Horned Frogs in the opening match, which ended their three-match winning streak, the Warhawks came through with a 3-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
No. 10 TCU 5, ULM 0
 
ULM faced its third ranked opponent of the season in the opening match of the Fight for the Fort when it squared off against No. 10 TCU.
 
The Horned Frogs jumped out to the early 1-0 lead, claiming the first point of the match when Trinity Cavanaugh and Tara Patton emerged with a 21-14, 21-17 victory over Abbey Bufkin and Elizabeth Moreland in the clash of No. 4 seeds.
 
The lead moved to 2-0 in TCU's favor after No. 5 seeds Caroline White and Josie Miller posted a 21-16, 21-15 win over Avery Reynolds and Ina Gosen. The Horned Frogs clinched the team win shortly thereafter when Olivia Blackburn and Hailey Brockett earned a 21-7, 21-15 win over Kayla Gallant and Abigail Elder when No. 2 seeds clashed.
 
Rochelle Scott and Maria Gonzalez added the fourth point for the Horned Frogs when the No. 3 seeds defeated Katie McKay and Anna Demmer, 21-15, 21-15. TCU completed the sweep by virtue of a 21-14, 21-14 win by No. 1 seeds Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno Mateeva, who downed Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek.
 
1. Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno Mateeva (TCU) def. Audrey Brooks/Julia Blazek (ULM) 21-14, 21-14
2. Olivia Blackburn/Hailey Brockett (TCU) def. Kayla Gallant/Abigail Elder (ULM) 21-7, 21-15
3. Rochelle Scott/Maria Gonzalez (TCU) def. Katie McKay/Anna Demmer (ULM) 21-15, 21-15
4. Trinity Cavanaugh/Tara Patton (TCU) def. Abbey Bufkin/Elizabeth Moreland (ULM) 21-14, 21-17
5. Caroline White/Josie Miller (TCU) def. Avery Reynolds/Ina Gosen (ULM) 21-16, 21-15

ULM 3, SFA 2
 
The Warhawks quickly returned to the courts for their first-ever meeting with Stephen F. Austin. ULM (8-9) earned their fourth win of the season in matches decided by one point, defeating the Lumberjacks 3-2.
 
SFA grabbed the early lead after Callie Neumann and Sadie Shipman overcame an opening-set loss to take down Ina Gosen and Avery Reynolds 12-21, 21-18 and 15-10 in a meeting of No. 5 seeds. ULM answered with a win of its own, evening the match at 1-all, after Elizabeth Moreland and Abbey Bufkin came through with a 21-16, 19-21, 15-13 victory over No. 4 seeds Xariah Williams and Suzana De Oliveria.
 
ULM assumed the 2-1 lead after No. 1 seeds Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek claimed their 11th win of the season (21-10, 21-18) over Corin Evans and Jorden Jaimes. The Lumberjacks evened the score at 2-2 after Iris Fletcher and Olivia Unnasch came through with the second third-set win of the match for SFA by defeating Abigail Elder and Kayla Gallant by scores of 14-21, 21-13, 15-12.
 
With the team victory hinging on the decision by the No. 3 seeds, ULM's Katie McKay and Anna Demmer earned the Warhawks' eighth win of the season and their eighth as a pair with a 21-18, 18-21, 15-9 triumph over Rylee Erwin and Paige Schieferstein.
 
1. Audrey Brooks/Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Corin Evans/Jorden Jaimes (SFA) 21-10, 21-18
2. Iris Fletcher/Olivia Unnasch (SFA) def. Abigail Elder/Kayla Gallant (ULM) 14-21, 21-13, 15-12
3. Katie McKay/Anna Demmer (ULM) def. Rylee Erwin/Paige Schieferstein (SFA) 21-18, 18-21, 15-9
4. Elizabeth Moreland/Abbey Bufkin (ULM) def. Xariah Williams/Suzana De Oliveria (SFA) 21-16, 19-21, 15-13
5. Callie Neumann/Sadie Shipman (SFA) def. Ina Gosen/Avery Reynolds (ULM) 12-21, 21-18, 15-10
 
ULM concludes the Fight for the Fort with a pair of Saturday matches against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 9 a.m. and rematch against TCU at 3:45 p.m.