MATCH 5: ULM WARHAWKS (1-3) vs. INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES (1-2)
11 a.m., Friday, September 1, 2023 | Robert F. Hyland Arena | St. Charles, Missouri
LIVE STATS: LindenwoodLions.com
MATCH 6: ULM WARHAWKS (1-3) at LINDENWOOD LIONS (2-1)
7:30 p.m., Friday, September 1, 2023 | Robert F. Hyland Arena | St. Charles, Missouri
TV/STREAM: ESPN+ | LIVE STATS: LindenwoodLions.com
MATCH 7: ULM WARHAWKS (1-3) vs. AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS (2-1)
12 p.m., Saturday, September 2, 2023 | Robert F. Hyland Arena | St. Charles, Missouri
LIVE STATS: LindenwoodLions.com
MATCH NOTES
MONROE, La. - The ULM volleyball team continues their non-conference road trip this weekend when they travel to St. Charles, Missouri for the Lindenwood Invitational. There, they will face off against Indiana State and Lindenwood on Friday before playing Austin Peay on Saturday. The Warhawks are off to a 1-3 start after losing in five sets to Grambling State on Tuesday.
FOLLOW THE WARHAWKS -
Links to live video and stats for all matches are available on ULMWarhawks.com. Navigate to the volleyball schedule page and select that day's opponent. All matches at this weekend's EIU Panther Classic are available on ESPN+.
QUICK STARTERS -
ULM has performed best in the first set where they have the highest points per set with 88 total points scored in the first. The Warhawks also have outscored their opponent in the fourth set with 50 points against 37. They are 1-1 in five set matches this season.
JEFFUS NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM -
Logan Jeffus has been one of the top performers for the Warhawks. Last weekend, she was named to the All-Tournament Team in the Eastern Illinois Panther Classic. In 2023, she is second on the team in kills with 33 (2.06 per set). She is also second in total points scored with 34.5. In the win against Akron, Jeffus produced 16 kills and 17.5 points.
TRUE FRESHMAN BROWN LEADS THE WAY THROUGH FOUR MATCHES -
The top performer has been
Ariana Brown. She has been on fire to start the year with a team-leading 44 kills (2.75 per set) and leads the team in total points with 48. She has produced ten kills or more three times this season in games versus EIU, Akron and Grambling State.
ROBERSON, HOWARD SET THE TONE -
The two main setters for the Warhawks have been
Bailey Roberson and
Morgan Howard. Roberson has produced 67 assists, which is first on the team, and 28 digs, which ranks third. She scored 27 assists in the win versus Akron. Howard is second in assists with 56 and has 22 digs. She had 18 assists versus Akron and 21 assists against Grambling State.
Cameron Rogers leads the team in digs with 60 including 27 against Akron.
ROAD WARRIORS -
The 2023 season will involve a good amount of time on the team bus. The Warhawks travel on the road for the first 16 games of the season and will not make an appearance in Fant-Ewing Coliseum until September 28 vs South Alabama. A similar scenario happened last season when ULM only played one home game in 14 non-conference games.
KEARNS TAKES CONTROL -
Head coach Matt Kearns will make his head coaching debut Friday afternoon. Kearns was a graduate assistant coach and assistant coach for six seasons for Northern Kentucky. While he was there, the Norse posted a 108-69 record. Before that, he was a student coach and technical advisor at Xavier from 2013-2017.
JEFFUS, THOMAS, ROBERSON, ROGERS HEADLINE RETURNERS -
Top returners for the Warhawks include middle blocker
Logan Jeffus, outside hitter
Taylor Thomas, setter
Bailey Roberson and defensive specialist/libero
Cameron Rogers.
Jeffus had 24 block solos in 2022, which ranks third-most in a single season for ULM in the 25-point rally scoring era (since 2008). Her 33 career block solos rank fifth in the same time span. She also finished third in single season hitting percentage last season at .284
Thomas recorded 186 kills, which ranked third on the team, and 278 assists, the second highest in the club in 2022.
Roberson racked up 835 assists in 2022, which ranks fourth in a single season in the 25-point rally scoring era for ULM.
Rogers tallied 442 digs as a sophomore in 2022, which is fifth-most in a single season for ULM in the 25-point rally scoring era.
DEPTH PROVIDED BY BIG RETURNING GROUP -
In addition to the four returners highlighted above, ULM has six more returners on the roster. Outside hitter
Emily Adams returns after playing in 52 sets over 25 matches last season. Outside hitter/right side
Brynn Botkin piled up 181 kills last year while playing in 106 sets over 31 matches. Defensive specialist
Callie Humphrey saw time in 108 sets over 31 matches, picking up 210 digs. Outside hitter/right side
Lydia Mesusan saw increased playing time late in the 2022 season, playing in 36 sets over 18 matches. Outside hitter/defensive specialist
Sandlin Short saw limited action, playing in nine sets over six matches. Right side/middle blocker
Madeline Villarreal returns after playing in 38 sets over 14 matches. Villarreal missed the last six weeks of the 2022 season with an injury.
TALL FRESHMEN GROUP LOOKS TO MAKE IMMEDIATE IMPACT -
Matt Kearns will work with eight freshmen newcomers in 2023. Seven of the eight players stand 6-0 or taller, including middle blocker
Kenzie Behl (6-0), outside hitter
Ariana Brown (6-0), right-side hitter
Addison Chapman (6-3), setter
Morgan Howard (6-0), outside hitter
Maddie Peterson (6-0), middle blocker
Hannah Redrow (6-2) and middle blocker
Kylie Stehlin (6-2). Only defensive specialist/libero
Olivia Sanchez (5-9) stands under 6-0. Six of the eight newcomers also come from Texas, while Peterson comes to ULM from Florida and Stehlin is from Missouri.
A LOOK AHEAD -
The Warhawks travel to the Mississippi capital in Jackson to take on Jackson State on Tuesday. Next weekend, they will return to Louisiana for the New Orleans Invitational against Southern and New Orleans on Friday and Saturday.
