ULM Warhawks

HATTIESBURG, Miss. –  For the first time since Feb. 27, the ULM beach volleyball team dropped back-to-back matches as the Warhawks suffered a 4-1 setback to UAB and a 3-2 loss to Southern Miss on the opening day of the Southern Miss Beach Invitational on Friday, April 2. The matches also counted in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) standings as the Warhawks slipped to 2-7 in league play.
 
MATCH 1: UAB 4, ULM 1


ULM opened the two-day, four-match event with a matched against UAB, which emerged with the 4-1 victory. The Blazers earned one of their four points when the No. 1 pair of Rachel Tam and Mikayla Law-Heese came through with a three-set win over Julia Blazek and Audrey Brooks by scores of 21-17, 16-21, 15-10.
 
The Warhawks No. 2 tandem of Kayla Gallant and Abigail Elder earned a 21-13, 21-15 win over Dylynn Otte and Emma Andraka. However, the Blazers answered with a win from No. 3 seeds Annie Pringle and Jenna Gathright, who claimed a 21-12, 21-23, 15-8 win against Katie McKay and Anna Demmer.
 
UAB also was successful in the fourth-seeded match as Arden Copping and Salli Napolitano defeated Abbey Bufkin and Elizabeth Moreland by scores of 21-18, 21-14. The Blazers fifth-seeded duo of Pearl Moore and Jessica Ennis triumphed over ULM's Kaitlyn Nowak and Holland Ponthieux by scores of 21-19, 21-11.
 
1. Rachel Tam/Mikayla Law-Heese (UAB) def. Julia Blazek/Audrey Brooks (ULM) 21-17, 16-21, 15-10
2. Kayla Gallant/Abigail Elder (ULM) def. Dylynn Otte/Emma Andraka (UAB) 21-13, 21-15
3. Annie Pringle/Jenna Gathright (UAB) def. Katie McKay/Anna Demmer (ULM) 21-12, 21-23, 15-8
4. Arden Copping/Salli Napolitano (UAB) def. Abbey Bufkin/Elizabeth Moreland (ULM) 21-18, 21-14
5. Pearl Moore/Jessica Ennis (UAB) def. Kaitlyn Nowak/Holland Ponthieux (ULM) 21-19, 21-11
 
MATCH 2: Southern Miss 3, ULM 2
 
The Warhawks (11-12, 2-7 CCSA) suffered their fourth one-point loss of the season in a 3-2 setback to tournament host Southern Miss in the nightcap.
 
Southern Miss earned one of its three points as the No. 1-seeded tandem of Kylie Grandy and Abbey Wilson claimed a 21-15, 13-21, 15-9 win over Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek. ULM's No. 2-seeded pairing of Kayla Gallant and Abigail Elder won their second match of the day, 17-21, 21-18, 15-8, versus Valeria S. Papakyria and Haley Hop.
 
The Warhawks picked up a point from third-seeded tandem of Anna Demmer and Katie McKay, who took down Breleigh Favre and Kellie Garraway by scores of 23-21, 22-24, 15-11. Southern Miss responded with wins from both the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. The fourth-seeded pairing of Madison Lawler and Olivia Hepworth completed a 21-16, 23-25, 20-18 win over Elizabeth Moreland and Holland Ponthieux. The No. 5 duo of Hallie Phelan and Kai Norman earned a point for the Golden Eagles with an 11-21, 21-18, 19-17 victory over ULM's Ina Gosen and Abbey Bufkin.
 
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) def. Audrey Brooks/Julia Blazek (ULM) 21-15, 13-21, 15-9
2. Kayla Gallant/Abigail Elder (ULM) def. Valeria S. Papakyria/Haley Hop (USM) 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
3. Anna Demmer/Katie McKay (ULM) def. Breleigh Favre/Kellie Garraway (USM) 23-21, 22-24, 15-11
4. Madison Lawler/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def. Elizabeth Moreland/Holland Ponthieux (ULM) 21-16, 23-25, 20-18
5. Hallie Phelan/Kai Norman (USM) def. Ina Gosen/Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 11-21, 21-18, 19-17
 
The Warhawks return to action on Saturday, April 3 with matches against Tulane at 12 p.m. and Spring Hill at 4 p.m.