ULM Warhawks

BATON ROUGE, La. – The ULM beach volleyball team split the first day of play at the Battle at the Bayou on Friday, April 9, rebounding from a 3-2 setback to New Orleans in the opening match of the tournament to claim a 3-2 victory against Spring Hill College in the afternoon session. The victory over the Badgers gives ULM its 12th victory (12-15 overall) of the 2021 season.
 
MATCH 1: New Orleans 3, ULM 2
 
New Orleans evened the season series with the Warhawks with a 3-2 victory in the opening match of the day.
 
ULM's No. 1 pair of Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek earned their 15th win of the season when they completed a two-set victory against Veronica Corcoran and Victoria Corcoran by scores of 21-19 and 22-20. That was one of two wins by the Top-3 seeds for the Warhawks, who also received a point on court three from the tandem of Anna Demmer and Katie McKay, who triumphed over Brianna Vega and Liz Gialanella by scores of 24-22.
 
The Privateers claimed one of their three wins in the match when the No. 2-seeded pairing of Maxine Walsh and Ally Carr defeated ULM's Abigail Elder and Kayla Gallant in three sets by scores of 21-18, 18-21, 15-8.
 
New Orleans also received a point from fourth-seeded pair Madeline Drake and Alexa Spartz, who rebounded from an opening-set loss to earn a 11-21, 21-17, 15-7 win over Holland Ponthieux and Ina Gosen. Trinity Jackson and Hannah Volpi followed the lead of their Privateer teammates, coming through with a three-set win in the fifth-seeded match-up against Elizabeth Moreland and Abbey Bufkin by scores of 15-21, 21-18, 15-13.
 
1. Audrey Brooks/Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Veronica Corcoran/Victoria Corcoran (UNO) 21-19, 22-20
2. Maxine Walsh/Ally Carr (UNO) def. Abigail Elder/Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-18, 18-21, 15-8
3. Anna Demmer/Katie McKay (ULM) def. Brianna Vega/Liz Gialanella (UNO) 24-22, 21-18
4. Madeline Drake/Alexa Spartz (UNO) def. Holland Ponthieux/Ina Gosen (ULM) 11-21, 21-17, 15-7
5. Trinity Jackson/Hannah Volpi (UNO) def. Elizabeth Moreland/Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 15-21, 21-18, 15-13
 
MATCH 2: ULM 3, Spring Hill College 2
 
ULM ended its five-match losing streak with a 3-2 decision over Spring Hill College in the second match of the Battle at the Bayou.
 
The tandem of Audrey Brooks and Julia Blazek again provided ULM with a key point in the match, earning a 21-17, 24-26, 15-9 victory over fellow No. 1 seeds Kassandra Fairly and Payton Gidney. Warhawk teammates Kayla Gallant and Abigail Elder earned their first win of the tournament with a 21-13, 22-20 triumph over Sarah Senft and Mikayla Boyer on court two.
 
ULM also picked up a point from No. 3 seeds Anna Demmer and Katie McKay, who posted a three-set win, 17-21, 21-11, 15-12, against Allison Weimer and Leanne Sorrel.
 
The two Badger points came from wins by the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. Spring Hill's Natalie Bonner and Brooke Borgmeyer earned a 21-17, 21-15 win over Holland Ponthieux and Ina Gosen on court four. Meanwhile, Linnea Beger and Kyla Shappell posted a 22-20, 16-21, 17-15 victory over ULM's No. 5 tandem of Elizabeth Moreland and Brooke Hoven.
 
1. Audrey Brooks/Julia Blazek (ULM) def. Kassandra Fairly/Payton Gidney (SHC) 21-17, 24-26, 15-9
2. Kayla Gallant/Abigail Elder (ULM) def. Sarah Senft/Mikayla Boyer (SHC) 21-13, 22-20
3. Anna Demmer/Katie McKay (ULM) def. Allison Weimer/Leanne Sorrel (SHC) 17-21, 21-11, 15-12
4. Natalie Bonner/Brooke Borgmeyer (SHC) def. Holland Ponthieux/Ina Gosen (ULM) 21-17, 21-15
5. Linnea Beger/Kyla Shappell (SHC) def. Elizabeth Moreland/Brooke Hoven (ULM) 22-20, 16-21, 17-15
 
ULM completes the Battle at the Bayou on Saturday with a trio of matches against Texas A&M-Kingsville (11:40 a.m.), Central Arkansas (3:40 p.m.) and fourth-ranked LSU (7:40 p.m.).