HOUSTON, Texas – The ULM volleyball team (3-2) had their three-game win streak snapped by the McNeese State Cowgirls (4-2) in a 3-0 loss (25-15, 27-25, 25-20) Friday afternoon in the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup hosted by the University of Houston. This matchup is the first of three that the Warhawks will compete in during their stay in Houston.
"Today we had another opportunity to play against another 'hot' team, and they didn't let off the gas from the first serve," volleyball head coach Charlie Olson said.
The two teams matched up well to start the first set. All five lead changes and all eight tie scores came in the first half of the set. A kill by freshman Logan Jeffus gave ULM their final lead in the set at 9-8 before the Cowgirls took control of the game. Freshman Avery Cole recorded the final two Warhawk kills in the set, closing the gap to 18-15. McNeese scored seven unanswered points to take the first set 25-15.
The Cowgirls jumped out to the lead quickly in the second set. The Warhawks found themselves trailing 9-4 and took a timeout. The Warhawks regrouped and freshman Phoebe Stigen immediately came up with a kill to give her team momentum. ULM was able to close the gap to 11-9. The Warhawks closely trailed McNeese before the Cowgirls broke away to go up 24-20. Multiple errors and a kill by senior Cali Assaley prevented McNeese from closing out the set. The Warhawks tied the Cowgirls at 24. The two teams tied again at 25 but the Cowgirls closed out with back-to-back kills and took the second set, 27-25.
Despite closing the gap in the second set late, the Cowgirls ran away with the third set. The Warhawks tied the score up just once at 11. The Cowgirls hit multiple scoring stretches that allowed them to take the set and the match, 25-20.
The Warhawks will compete against McNeese again Tuesday in Lake Charles at 6:30 p.m.
Assaley led the Warhawks with nine kills. Junior Kathryn Raschilla finished with six kills.
"We will be a much different team tomorrow," Olson said.
ULM faces off with Mississippi State at 2 p.m. and Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
