SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The ULM volleyball team (3-7) dropped both of its matches on the opening day of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Friday at the Hammons Student Center. Tulane got the first win over the Warhawks, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17). Missouri State bested the Warhawks, 3-0 (25-20, 25-7, 25-16), Friday night.
"Tulane played extremely clean, which beat us at the end, as we compiled too many errors," ULM head coach Charlie Olson said.
Tulane (6-2) took control with the first six points of the opening set. ULM (3-7) battled back to get within two at 13-11 on a block by sophomore Emma McWhorter and junior Kathryn Raschilla. The Warhawks kept the set tight until late, when the Green Wave rattled off four straight points to close it out, 25-18.
Tulane pushed out to an early lead in the second set, going up five at 12-7. ULM knotted the set at 14 on a kill by senior Cali Assaley and surged in front at 17-15 thanks to a kill by freshman Madeline Villarreal and an attack error by the Green Wave. Tulane answered with five straight points to go back on top, 20-17, and never relinquished the lead again to claim the set, 25-20.
In the final set, the Green Wave cruised to an early 5-1 lead before ULM again cut into the deficit, pulling within one several times, with the final one-point margin at 12-11 on a kill by Raschilla. Tulane answered with another 5-0 run to extend the lead to 16-11. ULM came no closer than three points the rest of the way as the Green Wave pulled away to win the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-0.
Assaley led the Warhawks with 10 kills against Tulane, while junior Madeline Hogan added 22 digs and junior Darby Fisher had 13 assists.
Against Missouri State (5-2), the two sides played a tight first set. ULM led 11-9 off an attack error by the Bears, but Missouri State flipped the script and used a 4-0 run to lead 13-11. ULM regained the lead at 16-15 on a kill by freshman Logan Jeffus, but Missouri State rattled off seven consecutive points to go back in front and take control for the win, 25-20.
The Bears dominated the second set, committing no attack errors and hitting .615 in the set. Missouri State went on a 13-0 run and rolled to a 25-7 win.
In the final set, Missouri State continued its momentum by building a quick 7-2 lead. They led by as much as 10 before cruising to the 25-16 win and took the match, 3-0.
"The gym was full and the energy was great," Olson said. "We ran a balanced offense in the first set and extended a ton of rallies. In set two, they didn't commit any errors and we dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of. In set three, we bounced back and played with a ton of excitement and poise until they pulled away at the end."
Freshman Avery Cole led ULM with nine kills against Missouri State. Hogan picked up nine digs and Fisher tallied 19 assists.
"We have a few things to tighten up both offensively and defensively," Olson said. "It's been great being able to get our freshmen out there in pressure situations."
ULM closes out their stay in Missouri at 3 p.m. Saturday against Saint Louis.
