MONROE, La. – The ULM beach volleyball team hosts its second tournament of the season when it welcomes Mary Hardin-Baylor, Central Arkansas, New Orleans and Southeastern at the ULM Beach Volleyball Courts for the ULM Beach Invitational. It also marks the final home event for seniors
Audrey Brooks,
Kayla Gallant and
Elizabeth Moreland.
ULM is trying to snap a six-match losing skid in Friday's first match against UMHB at 9 a.m. The Warhawks lost all four matches at last week's LSU Beach Invitational to No. 2 TCU, No. 6 LSU, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Tampa.
The duo of Moreland and junior
Brooke Hoven went 2-2 last weekend at LSU. Moreland and Hoven won their Court 4 match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Aurora Carnes and Micaela Mirabel, 2-0 (21-18, 21-10). They also won on Court 4 against Tampa's Katie McKiel and Sara Szalay, 2-0 (21-18, 21-10).
The only other pair to earn a victory last week was the No. 1 duo of Brooks and junior
Julia Blazek, winning 2-0 against Tampa's Gia Marinelli and Rachel Rosequist (21-12, 21-13).
Gallant and senior
Rylin Adams took Tampa's Melissa Elias and Madison Brunick to three sets on Court 3, falling 2-1 (21-14, 14-21, 15-7). Junior
Abigail Elder and sophomore
Abbey Bufkin went to three sets twice, doing so against A&M-CC's Shea Slusser and Kela Moreno (14-21, 21-17, 22-20) and Tampa's Keely Hamilton and Valerie Rosequist (21-18, 19-21, 15-10).
UMHB is 5-17 overall, with wins over Missouri Baptist (3-2), Cedar Valley College (5-0), Oklahoma Wesleyan (3-2) and twice against Ottawa (Kan.) (5-0 and 3-2). The Cru is 0-8 against Division I competition, losing all eight matches by 5-0 margins. It is the first season for beach volleyball at UMHB. ULM and UMHB open the tournament at 9 a.m. Friday.
UCA is 10-6 on the season, including a 3-1 mark at last week's Beach Bear Invitational in Conway, Arkansas. UCA defeated Hendrix and Stephen F. Austin by 5-0 margins, and held off Missouri State, 3-2. The Bears also lost to Stephen F. Austin, 3-2. Friday's 1 p.m. match is the first meeting between the two teams this season.
ULM opens play at 9 a.m. Saturday against New Orleans. The Privateers are 10-10 on the season. UNO fell in the final three matches of its home invitational last week to North Florida (5-0), Spring Hill (3-2) and Southeastern (3-2). It is the third of four meetings between ULM and UNO this season, with the two sides splitting a pair of 3-2 matches to date. ULM won the first meeting at the Houston Baptist Tournament to open the season, while the Privateers exacted revenge at the Fight In The Fort on March 18.
The weekend closes with a senior recognition ceremony for Brooks, Gallant and Moreland before ULM's final dual against Southeastern at 5 p.m. The Lions are 8-10 on the season and went 2-2 at last week's UNO Invitational, defeating Nicholls (5-0) and New Orleans (3-2) around losses to Spring Hill (3-2) and North Florida (5-0). It is the second meeting between ULM and Southeastern this season, with the Warhawks winning 4-1 at the HBU Tournament.
