BEAUMONT, Texas - ULM began their 2021 season with a split on the opening day of the Katrinka Crawford Invitational at Lamar's McDonald Gym. The Warhawks dropped their first matchup against Oral Roberts, 3-2 (25-16, 26-28, 25-15, 20-25, 15-13), but they made quick work of Prairie View A&M, 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-15).
 
With their victory over Prairie View A&M, ULM ended a 23-game losing streak that stretched over two seasons.
 
"Today we saw a vast improvement from our scrimmage last weekend," head coach Charlie Olson said. "Our task is to get one percent better every day, and we did just that."
 
In the second set versus Oral Roberts, the Warhawks kept pace with 11 ties and four lead changes before taking the set 28-26 after trailing 7-3 early on. ULM bounced back after dropping the third set to take the fourth, and led 10-8 in the final set. However, they could not survive the 20-kill performance by Kaia Dunford and the 15-kill performance by Sakira Lacour as ORU rallied for the win.
 
The ULM offense leaped ahead of Prairie View A&M early. PVAMU only led twice over the Warhawks and tied the match four times in the remaining two sets. After ULM found themselves trailing 11-9, the Warhawks scored 10 unanswered before the Panthers could respond. The Panthers never led in the final set.
 
"We've found a flow offensively and we look to carry that into tomorrow against host Lamar," said Olson
 
Senior Cali Assaley led her team with team with 12 kills in their five-set loss to Oral Roberts. Freshman Logan Jeffus posted 11 kills in her collegiate debut.
 
In their win over Prairie View A&M, junior Kathryn Raschilla led the team with 10 kills in the three-set matchup. Junior Darby Fisher tallied 31 assists. Freshman Avery Cole had seven kills in the first set and finished with nine in the matchup.
 
"We will definitely cherish the win tonight; it's been too long," said Olson.
 
The Warhawks finish their stay in Beaumont against invitational host Lamar at 1 p.m. Saturday. ULM defeated Lamar at the Stephen F. Austin Invitational to open the 2020 season.