NATCHITOCHES, La. - The ULM volleyball team split a pair of matches against in-state competition in Southeastern 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 19-25, 14-25) and Southern 3-2 (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11) on the first day of the Battle For The Boot at Prather Coliseum.
 
In the first set against the Lions (7-4 overall, 0-1 Southland), the Warhawks (4-8 overall) started hot with a 5-1 start before the Lions roared back and tied the set. ULM then scored eight out of the next nine points to take a commanding lead. Even though Southeastern had a 5-0 run at one point, it couldn't overcome the early deficit and lost set one.
 
In set two, it was the Lions starting fast with an 11-4 score to start. Trailing by seven, the Warhawks scored seven straight points to tie it. The set came down to the wire with both teams trading blows. With the score at 24 all, Southeastern scored the final two points to tie the match at one set each.
 
With a 7-6 Lion lead, they scored five in a row to double the Warhawks score. Southeastern held control for the rest of the set. With the score at 23-15, the Warhawks tried to fight back late with a 4-1 scoring run, but a final kill by Rachel Hartmann sealed the set for the Lions.
 
Set four started as a close affair with the two teams battling for control. With the score at 12-9 for the Lions, they used a 9-2 scoring run to take the advantage. Southeastern never looked back and took the set and the match with a 25-14 finish.
 
Logan Jeffus led the team in kills with 15. Bailey Roberson had 24 assists with Morgan Howard right behind her at 21. Cameron Rogers had a team-leading 27 digs.
 
In their second match of the day against Southern (1-5 overall), the Warhawks raced out to a 7-2 lead. The Jaguars then scored six unanswered points to take the lead. ULM responded with a 6-1 scoring run to retake control. With the Warhawks leading by four, Southern used a 5-2 scoring run to put itself back in the set. With ULM leading 23-20, a kill by Howard and an attack error secured the set win.
 
The Warhawks wasted no time in set two with an 8-4 start. A 6-1 scoring run gave ULM more control as they held an eight-point lead. The Jaguars didn't go down quietly as they put together a 6-2 scoring run late, but the Warhawks ended any hopes of a set win with a service error to win it.
 
The Jaguars responded to two set losses with a dominating start in the third set. They raced out to a 10-3 lead before the Warhawks could score more than two points in a row. A 4-0 scoring run put Southern at a clear advantage with a 15-7 score. The Warhawks weren't done yet however and fought back. For every point the Jaguars scored, ULM had at least two to answer with. With the Jaguars at 24 points, the Warhawks only trailed by one, but a final kill by Southern ended any hopes of a sweep.
 
In set four, with the score at 5-5, the Jaguars used a 6-1 scoring run to give them control. With Southern having a six-point lead, ULM used an 8-2 run to tie the set at 16. The Warhawks were looking to hold onto a 20-19 lead, but the Jaguars scored six out of the last eight points and tied the match at 2-2.
 
In the fifth and final set, ULM started hot and held a 6-3 lead before three straight points by Southern tied the set. With ULM holding a narrow one-point lead, it scored three straight of their own to reestablish control. A final kill by Madeline Villarreal gave the Warhawks the win.
 
Top performers for the Warhawks included Hannah Redrow, who led the team in kills with 10. Roberson and Howard tied in number of assists with 21 each. Four Warhawks had 10 digs or more with Taylor Thomas leading the way with 15.
 
The Warhawks continue play at 12 p.m. Saturday against the host, Northwestern State.