HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The 2023 beach volleyball season for the ULM Warhawks officially came to a close after a heartbreaking loss to Southern Miss at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, 3-2, on Saturday at John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex.
ULM took off early in the match, going up 2-0 and looking like they might win it in multiple flights, but a few untimely mistakes and Southern Miss' momentum took over to give the Golden Eagles the match.
ULM's No. 4s,
Avery Reynolds and
Claire Williamson, ended their season with a win over Ashlyn Rough and Morgan Perry, 21-13, 21-16. The Warhawks' final win of the match came on court three with
Brooke Hoven and
Tamsie Black defeating Reagan Sandlin and Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou, 21-19, 21-12.
The Golden Eagles brought in their first win on court one with Vanessa Hurnikova and Ola Chudzik defeating
Julia Blazek and
Rylin Adams, 21-19, 21-15.
Up 2-1 in the match, ULM took their remaining games the distance with both the No. 2 and the No. 5 pairs going to decisive third sets. A late push by USM's No. 5 pair, Madison Cassidy and Kellie Garraway, gave them the win over Kaitlyn and
Kaylie Beck, 21-19, 17-21, 15-12, tying the match up at 2. ULM clawed their way back in both the second and third set on court two, but a few mistakes late in the third gave USM the advantage and eventually the match with the USM's No. 2s, Hallie Phelan and Taylor Pierce, defeating
Kaitlyn Nowak and
Madeline Marquez, 21-15, 19-21, 15-11.
The Warhawks end their season with an overall record of 31-4, the best record in program history, and they boast the winningest pair in program history, Reynolds and Williamson, who ended their season with a record of 32-2.
(6) Southern Miss 3, (5) ULM 2
1. Vanessa Hurnikova / Ola Chudzik (USM) def.
Julia Blazek /
Rylin Adams (ULM) 21-19, 21-15
2. Hallie Phelan / Taylor Pierce (USM) def.
Kaitlyn Nowak /
Madeline Marquez (ULM) 21-15, 19-21, 15-11
3.
Brooke Hoven /
Tamsie Black (ULM) def. Reagan Sandlin / Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) 21-19, 21-12
4.
Avery Reynolds /
Claire Williamson (ULM) def. Ashlyn Rough / Morgan Perry (USM) 21-13, 21-16
5. Madison Cassidy / Kellie Garraway (USM) def.
Kaylie Beck /
Kaitlyn Beck (ULM) 21-19, 17-21, 15-12
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
