MONROE, La. – ULM continued its unprecedented start to the beach volleyball season by sweeping its own ULM Bayou Bash. ULM was hot on the weekend, only dropping one game out of the four matches played, earning 5-0 wins against Southwest Baptist and Nicholls twice and a 4-1 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. With their last win of the weekend against Nicholls, the Warhawks tied the program record with 19 wins in a single season.
This weekend also was the first of two home tournaments for the Warhawks this season and they put on a show for the home crowd. Playing in a home tournament environment can be very daunting because they don't have many chances to play in front of friends and families, but this squad handled it well. The Warhawks adapted to quick changes made to their schedule due to weather rolling into the area, as well as playing teams they've already played and beaten this season.
The Warhawks opened their home weekend up with a 5-0 win over Southwest Baptist. Julia Blazek and Kaitlyn Nowak kicked off the match with a speedy win at the No. 2 over Janel Pido and Katie Pogue, 21-14, 21-15. Avery Reynolds and Claire Williamson quickly followed at the No. 4 defeating Julia Becker and Carlee Lill, 21-15, 21-15. Brooke Hoven and Tamsie Black secured the match with a win at the No. 3 over Paityn Kramer and Madison Satterly, 21-17, 21-14. Rylin Adams and Madeline Marquez also brought in a win at the No. 1 beating Azalea Clandenning and Bailey Lasater, 21-17, 21-18. Kaitlyn Beck and Kaylie Beck closed out the match with a win at the No. 5 over Gabrielle Belcher and Lill, 21-15, 21-11.
ULM finished Friday off with another win over Nicholls, 5-0, in their third meeting on the season. Reynolds and Williamson started the second match off with a win at the No. 4 defeating Taylor Heeb and Kendall Battistella, 21-11, 21-10. Kaitlyn and Kaylie Beck followed with a win at the No. 5 over Ja'Mya Holmes and McKay Wilson, 21-11, 21-17. The win at the No. 3 by Hoven and Black clinched the match with a win over Bethanie Durant and McKenna Noble, 21-10, 21-10. Adams and Marquez made a statement win at the No. 1, defeating Aspen Steele and Kennedy Steele, 21-11, 21-12. Blazek and Nowak completed the sweep with a win against Luciana Chuong and Katie Jones, 21-18, 21-12, at the No. 2.
Saturday morning ULM faced Texas A&M Kingsville for the first time this season despite competing at TAMUK's home tournament earlier this year. The Warhawks defeated the Javelinas, 4-1, with their only loss coming out of a brutal 3-set game. Reynolds and Williamson brought in the first win at the No. 4 defeating Meghan Stiefer and Kalani Vasquez, 21-10, 21-18. Kaitlyn Beck and Kaylie Beck completed the first wave with a win at the No. 5 over Jackie Alanis and Taylor McCarthy, 21-18, 21-15. The match was clinched by ULMs No. 2 pair, Blazek and Nowak, who defeated Rylie Anderson and Madelyn Wallace, 21-14, 21-17. Adams and Marquez at the No. 1s brought in the final win of the match, beating Ryan Pollard and Adrienne Van Brunt, 21-14, 21-17. Hoven and Black took on Grace Gettys and Olivia Zeigler at the No. 3 and came up just short in a heart-breaking match, losing 22-20, 16-21, 15-13.
The Warhawks closed out the weekend with a record-tying win over Nicholls, 5-0, in the fourth meeting this season. Reynolds and Williamson at the No. 4 came out to grab win number one of the match over Heeb and Battistella, 21-7, 21-12. In a similar fashion to the fours, Kaitlyn Beck and Kaylie Beck came out hot and took down Holmes and Wilson, 21-7, 21-10 at the No. 5. Blazek and Nowak at the No. 2 brought in a win defeating Chuong and Jones, 21-11, 21-3. Hoven and Black added in another win at the No. 3 beating Durant and Malone, 21-18, 21-11. Adams and Marquez completed the sweep in a high energy game at the No. 1, beating Aspen Steele and Kennedy Steele, 21-14, 21-10.
The Warhawks look to push their momentum into the coming weekend in Birmingham at the UAB Blazer Beach Duals. ULM will take on Jacksonville State, Mercer, Austin Peay and UAB.
ULM 5, Southwest Baptist 0
1. Rylin Adams/Madelyn Marquez (ULM) def. Azalea Clendenning/Bailey Lasater (SBU) 21-17, 21-18
2. Julia Blazek/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Janel Pido/Katie Pogue (SBU) 21-14, 21-15
3. Brooke Hoven/Tamsie Black (ULM) def. Paityn Kramer/Madison Satterly (SBU) 21-17, 21-14
4. Avery Reynolds/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Julia Becker/Carlee Lill (SBU) 21-15, 21-15
5. Kaylie Beck/Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Gabrielle Belcher/Carlee Lill (SBU) 21-15, 21-11
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
ULM 5, Nicholls 0
1. Rylin Adams/Madelyn Marquez (ULM) def. Aspen Steele/Kennedy Steele (NICH) 21-11, 21-12
2. Julia Blazek/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Luciana Chuong/Katie Jones (NICH) 21-18, 21-12
3. Brooke Hoven/Tamsie Black (ULM) def. Bethanie Durant/McKenna Malone (NICH) 21-10, 21-10
4. Avery Reynolds/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Taylor Heeb/Kendall Battistella (NICH) 21-11, 21-10
5. Kaylie Beck/Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Ja'Mya Holmes/McKay Wilson (NICH) 21-11, 21-17
Ext. Katie Felts/Madeline Williams (ULM) def. Hailey Mason/Alisha Wischkaemper (NICH) 21-7, 21-11
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 1, 2
ULM 4, Texas A&M-Kingsville 1
1. Rylin Adams/Madelyn Marquez (ULM) def. Rylan Pollard/Adrienne Van Brunt (TAMUK) 21-17, 21-13
2. Julia Blazek/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Rylie Anderson/Madelyn Wallace (TAMUK) 21-14, 21-17
3. Grace Gettys/Olivia Zeigler (TAMUK) def. Brooke Hoven/Tamsie Black (ULM) 22-20, 16-21, 15-13
4. Avery Reynolds/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Meghan Stiefer/Kalani Vasquez (TAMUK) 21-10, 21-18
5. Kaylie Beck/Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Jackie Alanis/Taylor McCarthy (TAMUK) 21-18, 21-15
Ext. Katie Felts/Madeline Williams (ULM) def. Delaney Evans/Caitlin Wilson (TAMUK) 21-12, 21-16
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 2, 1, 3
ULM 5, Nicholls 0
1. Rylin Adams/Madelyn Marquez (ULM) def. Aspen Steele/Kennedy Steele (NICH) 21-14, 21-10
2. Julia Blazek/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Luciana Chuong/Katie Jones (NICH) 21-11, 21-3
3. Brooke Hoven/Tamsie Black (ULM) def. Bethanie Durant/McKenna Malone (NICH) 21-18, 21-11
4. Avery Reynolds/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Taylor Heeb/Kendall Battistella (NICH) 21-7, 21-12
5. Kaylie Beck/Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) def. Ja'Mya Holmes/McKay Wilson (NICH) 21-7, 21-10
Ext. Katie Felts/Madeline Williams (ULM) def. Hailey Mason/Alisha Wischkaemper (NICH) 21-8, 21-9
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
