HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – After picking up the first conference tournament win in program history, ULM's beach volleyball season came to an end later Friday morning and afternoon.
The seventh-seeded Warhawks opened the day with a 3-2 win over sixth-seeded Southern Miss in an elimination match at the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championship at John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex. ULM then had its season end at the hands of fourth-seeded UAB, 5-0, early Friday afternoon.
ULM's
Kayla Gallant closed her career as the all-time wins leader in Warhawk history with 74 victories.
ULM closes the season at 11-22 overall.
(7) ULM 3, (6) Southern Miss 2
ULM opened the day by rallying from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over Southern Miss, avenging a 3-2 loss to the Golden Eagles on April 8 in Hattiesburg.
USM opened the match with a win on court five, as Carmen Delgado and Kai Norman defeated
Abigail Elder and
Abbey Bufkin, 21-11, 21-19. The lead moved to 2-0 on court three as Taylor Pierce and Olivia Hepworth swept
Elizabeth Moreland and
Brooke Hoven, 21-11, 21-18.
The tide started to turn on court four, where
Kaitlyn Nowak and
Avery Reynolds won two tight sets over Hallie Phelan and Valeria Siakidou, 22-20, 25-23.
Audrey Brooks and
Kayla Gallant tied things up on court one with a three-set win, 21-13, 19-21, 15-8, over Breleigh Favre and Alex Kudzik. ULM then completed the comeback on court two as
Julia Blazek and
Rylin Adams held off Vanessa Hurnikova and Konstance Garraway, 23-21, 21-18.
1.
Audrey Brooks/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) def. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Kudzik (USM) 21-13, 19-21, 15-8
2.
Julia Blazek/
Rylin Adams (ULM) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Konstance Garraway (USM) 23-21, 21-18
3. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Brooke Hoven (ULM) 21-11, 21-18
4.
Kaitlyn Nowak/
Avery Reynolds (ULM) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou (USM) 22-20, 25-23
5. Carmen Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) def.
Abigail Elder/
Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 21-11, 21-19
Order of Finish 5, 3, 4, 1, 2
(4) UAB 5, (7) ULM 0
ULM's season came to an end in the second elimination match as UAB rolled to a 5-0 win.
UAB started on court three as Naomi Ortiz and Dylynn Otte defeated Moreland and Hoven, 21-15, 21-16. On court four, Jenna Gathright and Emma Andraka extended the lead to 2-0 with a win over Nowak and Reynolds, 21-11, 21-12. The Blazers clinched the win on court one as Rachel Tam and Adraina Pereira defeated Brooks and Gallant, 21-17, 21-17.
UAB closed out the sweep with a pair of three-set wins. On court two, Arden Copping and Mikayla Law-Heese knocked off Blazek and Adams, 21-16, 15-21, 15-9. The match ended on court five as Jessica Ennis and Ella Alexander rallied past Elder and Bufkin, 20-22, 21-19, 15-13.
1. Rachel Tam/Adraina Pereira (UAB) def.
Audrey Brooks/
Kayla Gallant (ULM) 21-17, 21-17
2. Arden Copping/Mikayla Law-Heese (UAB) def.
Julia Blazek/
Rylin Adams (ULM) 21-16, 15-21, 15-9
3. Naomi Ortiz/Dylynn Otte (UAB) def.
Elizabeth Moreland/
Brooke Hoven (ULM) 21-15, 21-16
4. Jenna Gathright/Emma Andraka (UAB) def.
Kaitlyn Nowak/
Avery Reynolds (ULM) 21-11, 21-12
5. Jessica Ennis/Ella Alexander (UAB) def.
Abigail Elder/
Abbey Bufkin (ULM) 20-22, 21-19, 15-13
Order of Finish 3, 4, 1, 2, 5
