NATCHITOCHES, La. - The ULM volleyball team continued its hot start to the season after taking down Northwestern State, 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23), Tuesday night, Aug. 31, at Prather Coliseum. It was the Warhawks' first win against NSU since 2005.

"It's always a fun atmosphere against Northwestern State and they had an electric environment in their home opener tonight," ULM head coach Charlie Olson said. "The fans brought an awesome energy and we fed off of it early on."

ULM and NSU remained tied up for the early portion of the first set. After NSU cut the margin to 12-11, the Warhawks mounted a 9-0 to break away from the Demons. NSU would bring the game closer but a kill by freshman Avery Cole sealed the set 25-18. Senior Cali Assaley recorded four of her 10 kills in the first set.

The second set was the most competitive of the four, with nine ties and six lead changes.  A kill by Cole put the Warhawks on top, 11-10, but NSU would tie the set again at 17. A service error and three straight attack errors by NSU would all but seal the set for ULM. Junior Kathryn Raschilla picked up the final kill at 24-20, and another attack error closed the set in favor of the Warhawks, 25-20.

In the third set, the Demons broke a 6-6 tie with a 5-0 run. ULM managed to tie the set at 13, but the Demons took four-straight points to regain control. The Warhawks fought off five set points for NSU, including three consecutive kills by freshman Logan Jeffus and a service ace by freshman Cameron Rogers, before the Demons finally closed the set, 25-22.

"We let it slip away from us in the third, as they put some major pressure on us from the service line," Olson said.

NSU maintained control in the fourth until late in the set. The Warhawks battled back to tie the set at 20 on an attack error by NSU. After the Demons responded, the Warhawks rattled off three straight points thanks to a kill by Cole and two NSU errors to go on top, 23-21. A kill by Assaley pushed the Warhawks to match point, and a block by junior Mariana Volponi e Giordan handed the Warhawks the 25-23 set win and the match.

"The fourth set gave us a sense of urgency and we know that if we went to five, they would be hard to beat," said Olson.

Jeffus paced ULM with 15 kills and five blocks, while Cole added 13 kills and Assaley had 10. Volponi e Giordan tallied 40 assists and chipped in five blocks. Sophomore Chloe Jordan had a team-best 15 digs while junior Madeline Hogan added 10.

"We will celebrate this win and look forward to an off day before we head south to Houston this week," Olson said.

The Warhawks take part in Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup at the University of Houston on Friday and Saturday. They face McNeese State at 2 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, they take on Mississippi State at 2 p.m. and tournament host Houston at 6:30 p.m.