ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The ULM volleyball team dropped both contests on Friday at the Lindenwood Invitational at Robert Hyland Arena, falling to Indiana State, 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23), and Lindenwood, 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-14).
Indiana State 3, ULM 1
The Sycamores (2-3 overall) jumped out to a 4-1 lead. With the score at 5-4, they used a 7-2 scoring run to increase their lead. Trailing by eight at set point, the Warhawks (1-5 overall) scored seven unanswered to attempt a comeback, but Indiana State put the nail in the coffin with a final service error.
In set two, the Sycamores used another fast start to pull ahead early. They led by as many as nine points with the score at 16-7. ULM was able to respond with scoring runs of 9-2 and 5-2 to make the game closer. Two final kills by Kaitlyn Hamilton secured the set win for the Sycamores.
In the third set, it was the Warhawks jumping out early as they started with an 8-3 lead. Indiana State pulled within three points, but ULM scored five straight points to increase the gap. The Sycamores wouldn't go away and once again trailed by only three with the score at 20-17. The two teams went back and forth before kills by
Logan Jeffus and
Lydia Mesusan won the set for ULM.
In set four, ULM once again started hot with a 6-1 lead before Indiana State scored five unanswered to tie the game. The Warhawks answered with five point scoring run of their own to reclaim the lead. ULM had a 22-18 lead, but the Sycamores scored seven of the last eight points to steal the set and win the match 3-1.
Top performers for the Warhawks included
Brynn Botkin, who had a team-leading 12 kills with 17 digs.
Bailey Roberson led the team in assists with 27 and
Cameron Rogers led the team in digs with 21.
Lindenwood 3, ULM 1
The first set was a back-and-forth contest. With the score at 13-12, the Lions used a 4-0 scoring run to get a five-point lead. ULM was able to tie the game at 22, but three straight points for Lindenwood gave it the set win.
In set two, it was a replay of the first set as both teams traded blows. With the score tied at 14, the Lions used an 8-1 scoring run to take a commanding lead. The Warhawks tried to battle back late, but the Lions clinched the win with a kill.
In the third set, the Lions held a 15-11 lead, but a 7-1 run by ULM put them back on top. Lindenwood only trailed by three at match point, but a final kill by Jeffus ended the set and put the Warhawks on the board.
The Warhawks were down by one with an 8-7 score, but the Lions used an 8-2 scoring run to increase the lead. Lindenwood never looked back and ended the game with a 25-14 victory.
Ariana Brown and
Taylor Thomas both lead the Warhawks in kills with 10 each. Roberson once again had a team-leading 17 assists, and Rogers led the team in digs with 23.
The Warhawks return to action at 12 p.m. Saturday against Austin Peay.
