MONROE, La. – The ULM volleyball team fell to Georgia Southern, 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22), at Fant-Ewing Coliseum Friday night in its second Sun Belt Conference matchup of the season.
 
"It was an ugly offensive match for both sides and it was a defensive battle," ULM head coach Charlie Olson said.
 
ULM's defense held Georgia Southern in check throughout the first set. The Eagles took the lead once at 10-9, but the Warhawks took the lead back and scored five straight points. Senior Cali Assaley closed out the set, 25-17, with four straight kills.
 
In set two, ULM and Georgia Southern were locked into a tight contest with neither team breaking away with a sizable lead for the first half of action. The Eagles offense overpowered the Warhawks defense and they stretched out the lead to close out the set, 25-20.
 
Set three saw much of the same stingy defense from the Eagles. ULM lost its initial 3-1 lead and couldn't find its way back into the ball game. ULM managed to close the gap a few times but the Eagles would widen the gap with each run. ULM dropped the set, 25-19, and trailed 2-1 to Georgia Southern.
 
ULM once again came out to an early lead in the fourth set. The Eagles soared ahead into a 12-7 lead and forced a Warhawk timeout. ULM regrouped late in the contest and brought the game within two scores at 20-18. However, the Eagles scored three straight points to take the set and stop a Warhawk rally, 25-22.
 
"Being able to compete and hold up against someone like Georgia Southern says a lot about who we are as a team," Olson said.
 
ULM's Assaley led the offense with 15 kills. Freshman Kaitlin Davis finished with 16 digs. Junior Mariana Volponi e Giordan racked up 28 assists in the contest.
 
ULM returns to action next weekend with two contests in Texas. The Warhawks face Texas State Oct. 1 and UT Arlington on Oct 2.