BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The ULM beach volleyball team concluded the opening day of the Blazer Beach Bash by splitting a series of matches with Central Arkansas and Mercer on Friday, April 16. Central Arkansas took the opening match of the day by a 3-2 decision, but the Warhawks rebounded in the second match to claim a 5-0 victory over Mercer on the Blazer Beach Courts.
Central Arkansas 3, ULM 2
Central Arkansas (16-13) evened the season series with ULM by claiming a 3-2 victory in the opening match of the day.
The Warhawks (12-18) established a 1-0 lead when teammates
Holland Ponthieux and
Ina Gosen posted a 21-14, 21-10 win over Makenna Schmitt and Annie Berry in the battle of No. 4 seeds. Central Arkansas rebounded with a 16-21, 23-21, 15-12 from the fifth-seeded pairing of Shannon Stone and Bria Garmon, who downed
Elizabeth Moreland and
Brooke Hoven.
ULM assumed a 2-1 advantage in the match as
Audrey Brooks and
Julia Blazek emerged with a 21-16, 21-16 win in No. 1 action over Evelyn Griffith and Colene Hamilton. The Bears answered with back-to-back three set victories by the second and third seeds to complete the team win.
Central Arkansas' third-seed pair of Payton Sproule and Faith Hasness evened the match at 2-2 with a 21-8, 21-23, 15-13 decision over
Anna Demmer and
Katie McKay. Kelsie Sager and Aly Brinkley, the No. 2 seeds, followed with a 21-15, 18-21, 15-11 win, clinching the final point for the Bears by defeating
Kayla Gallant and
Abigail Elder.
1.
Audrey Brooks/
Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Evelyn Griffith/Colene Hamilton (UCA) 21-16, 21-16
2. Kelsie Sager/Aly Brinkley (UCA) def.
Kayla Gallant/
Abigail Elder (ULM) 21-15, 18-21, 15-11
3. Payton Sproule/Faith Hasness (UCA) def.
Anna Demmer/
Katie McKay (ULM) 21-8, 21-23, 15-13
4.
Holland Ponthieux/
Ina Gosen (ULM) def. Makenna Schmitt/Annie Berry (UCA) 21-14, 21-10
5. Shannon Stone/Bria Garmon (UCA) def.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Brooke Hoven (ULM) 16-21, 23-21, 15-12
ULM 5, Mercer 0
ULM (13-18) evened its all-time series with Mercer by earning a 5-0 victory in Friday evening's match on the Blazer Beach Courts. It marked the fifth 5-0 victory by the Warhawks in 2021.
All five of the Warhawk victories came in two sets, including a 21-15, 21-17 triumph by No. 1 seeds Brooks and Blazek, who defeated Gracie Garanich and Emilee Wissmach. Elder and Gallant picked up a 21-19, 21-18 win over Elli Merchant and Olivia Boeve in the clash of second seeds.
ULM's No. 3 seeds Gosen and McKay had one of the most decisive wins of the match, defeating Kacy Ogden and Maddie Nunley by scores of 21-9, 21-9. Fourth-seeded pair Demmer and Ponthieux also had a convincing 21-7, 21-10 victory over Mercer's (9-14) Hana Robertson and Elena Sanfrey.
Moreland and Hoven helped complete the 5-0 victory, the first for ULM since defeating Ottawa on March 24, by claiming a 21-13, 21-15 win against Ellie Miller and Aggie Paskevic.
1.
Audrey Brooks/
Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Gracie Garanich/Emilee Wissmach (Mercer): 21-15, 21-17
2. Abbie Elder/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) def. Elli Merchant/Olivia Boeve (Mercer): 21-19, 21-18
3.
Ina Gosen/
Katie McKay (ULM) def. Kacy Ogden/Maddie Nunley (Mercer): 21-19, 21-9
4.
Anna Demmer/Holland Ponnthieux (ULM) def. Hana Robertson/Elena Sanfrey (Mercer): 21-7, 21-10
5.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Brooke Hoven (ULM) def. Ellie Miller/Aggie Paskevic (Mercer): 21-13, 21-15
ULM concludes the Blazer Beach Bash on Saturday with a 10 a.m. match vs. Coastal Carolina and a 4 p.m. match vs. host UAB.
