HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The ULM beach volleyball team concluded the Southern Miss Beach Invitational with a series of setbacks to Tulane and Spring Hill, both by 4-1 margins.
Match 1: Tulane 4, ULM 1
Tulane picked up its second win of the season over the Warhawks in the opening game of the day, earning a 4-1 victory.
The lone victory for ULM (11-13, 2-8 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association) came from the No. 1 pair of
Julia Blazek and
Audrey Brooks, who posted a 23-21, 24-22 win over Kendall Peters and Eva Torruella. The Green Wave answered with a three-set victory by Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman, who emerged 21-13, 20-22, 15-8 over the tandem of
Abigail Elder and
Kayla Gallant in second-seeded action.
Avery Arellano and Tarin Mergener posted a 21-14, 21-18 win over
Anna Demmer and
Katie McKay in No. 3 play for Tulane. Teammates Allie Olsonoski and Maddie Speicher were also responsible for a 21-18, 21-19 victory in No. 4 play, taking down
Elizabeth Moreland and
Holland Ponthieux.
One of the Green Wave's four points came via a 21-16, 21-19 win by Lara Torruella and Ashton Mares, who triumphed over
Ina Gosen and
Abbey Bufkin in fifth-seeded play.
1.
Julia Blazek/
Audrey Brooks (ULM) def. Kendall Peters/Eva Torruella (TUL) 23-21, 24-22
2. Addison Hermstad/Samantha Mehlman (TUL) def.
Abigail Elder/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-13, 20-22, 15-8
3. Avery Arellano/Tarin Mergener (TUL) def.
Anna Demmer/
Katie McKay (ULM) 21-14, 21-18
4. Allie Olsonoski/Maddie Speicher (TUL) def.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Holland Ponthieux (ULM) 21-18, 21-19
5. Lara Torruella/Ashton Mares (TUL) def.
Ina Gosen/
Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 21-16, 21-19
Match 2: Spring Hill 4, ULM 1
The Badgers earned their third win in the all-time series against ULM with a 4-1 victory on Saturday afternoon.
ULM's (11-14) point in the match came when
Kayla Gallant and
Abigail Elder rebounded from an opening set loss to claim a 19-21, 21-19, 15-13 victory over Spring Hill's duo of Mikayla Boyer and Sarah Senft in a clash of second seeds.
Spring Hill earned one of its four points when the No. 1 pair of Payton Gidney and Kassandra Fairly emerged 25-23, 21-15 over
Julia Blazek and
Audrey Brooks. There was also a point gained from a 16-21, 21-13, 15-10 victory by Leanne Sorrel and Allison Weimer, who took down the ULM pair of
Anna Demmer and
Katie McKay.
Spring Hill's pair of Brooke Borgmeyer and Natalie Bonner followed the lead of their teammates, posting a three-set victory (21-11, 19-21, 18-16) over the ULM duo of
Holland Ponthieux and
Elizabeth Moreland when the No. 4 seeds collided.
Kyla Shappell and Linnea Beger were responsible for a point as the No. 5 pair posted a 21-11, 21-12 victory against ULM's
Abbey Bufkin and
Ina Gosen.
1. Payton Gidney/Kassandra Fairly (SPRSVB) def.
Julia Blazek/
Audrey Brooks (ULM) 25-23, 21-15
2.
Kayla Gallant/
Abigail Elder (ULM) def. Mikayla Boyer/Sarah Senft (SPRSVB) 19-21, 21-19, 15-13
3. Leanne Sorrel/Allison Weimer (SPRSVB) def.
Anna Demmer/
Katie McKay (ULM) 16-21, 21-13, 15-10
4. Brooke Borgmeyer/Natalie Bonner (SPRSVB) def.
Holland Ponthieux/
Elizabeth Moreland (ULM) 21-11, 19-21, 18-16
5. Kyla Shappell/Linnea Beger (SPRSVB) def.
Abbey Bufkin/
Ina Gosen (ULM) 21-11, 21-12
ULM looks to return to form when it heads to Baton Rouge to take part in the Battle on the Bayou, a five-match tournament that features New Orleans, Spring Hill, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Central Arkansas and host LSU.
