MONROE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team won the final two sets Friday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum for a 3-2 win over the Warhawks (15-25, 25-14, 26-28, 25-15, 15-8) in Sun Belt Conference action. ULM's Madeline Williams and Ragin' Cajun Kara Barnes each had 16 kills to share match-high honors. Cameron Rogers dug out 20 balls for the top match total, while teammate Callie Humphrey had 18 for the second-highest total of the night.
Momentum from the fourth set helped propel the Ragin' Cajuns to a 4-1 lead after ULM successfully challenged the awarding of the first set point. ULM tied the set at 6-all and again at 7-all, but the Ragin' Cajuns had three-straight points to go on top 10-7. The Warhawks moved within two points at 11-9, but couldn't get any closer as the Ragin' Cajuns won the fifth set 15-8 and sealed the match win.
The Ragin' Cajuns had control of both the second (25-14) and fourth sets (25-15) to tie the match at two sets apiece after the Warhawks won the third set 28-26. Down 10-13 in the third set, the Ragin' Cajuns rattled off nine-straight points to go up 19-13 with four coming from kills by Kara Barnes.
Three kills by three different ULM players followed by three Ragin' Cajun attack errors brought the Warhawks back within two at 22-20. The Ragin' Cajuns extended their lead to three at 23-20, but ULM took advantage of points in five of the next six chances for a 25-24 lead. The two teams traded kills and ties at 25 and 26. Williams' kills pushed the Warhawks to a 27-26 lead and a Ragin' Cajun error gave ULM the win.
The Warhawks took a 6-0 lead in the first set and held it until the Ragin' Cajuns tied the match at 12 and then again at 14. ULM scored 11 of the next 12 points with eight kills by seven different Warhawks. A service ace by Cameron Rogers and block assist from Williams and Tessa Gerwig helped during the final scoring streak for the 25-15 set victory.
The second Sun Belt Conference series match between ULM and the Ragin' Cajuns is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, and will be streamed by ESPN+. The Warhawk program will honor its five seniors following Saturday's match.
