LAKE CHARLES, La. - After four hard-fought sets of play, the ULM volleyball team dropped its last non-conference match of 2023 against McNeese, 3-1 (28-26, 23-25, 20-25, 26-28), Tuesday night at Legacy Center.
 
The first set started with both teams going back and forth. Trailing by one, the Cowgirls (3-11 overall) scored three in a row to take a 15-13 lead. The Warhawks (4-10) answered with a 4-1 scoring run to retake control. With the lead at 25-24, McNeese scored two straight points before a timeout was called by ULM. After the timeout, the Warhawks scored the final three points to take set one.
 
With the Cowgirls leading 4-2 in the second set, the Warhawks used a 5-1 scoring run to take the lead. Trailing by two, McNeese used a 7-0 scoring run to take a five-point lead. The Cowgirls led by as much as six with a 21-15 lead, but the Warhawks weren't done yet. They scored eight out of the next 11 points to cut the lead to one. However, one final kill by Emma Hendricks sealed the set for McNeese.
 
In set three, the two teams battled with McNeese holding a 10-8 lead. The Cowgirls extended the lead with four straight points. The Cowgirls were in control for most of the set. The Warhawks tried to fight back late with a 5-2 run late, but two final kills ended the set, and McNeese led the match, 2-1.
 
ULM started the fourth set hot with a 6-2 start, but a 4-1 run by the Cowgirls cut the deficit to one. The Warhawks used an 8-3 run to put themselves ahead by five. McNeese State used an 8-3 run of their own to tie the game at 21-21. ULM was one point away from winning the set with a 26-25 score, but three straight points from the Cowgirls stole the set away.
 
Brynn Botkin led the team with 13 kills and Ariana Brown came in second with 10. Bailey Roberson and Morgan Howard produced 20 and 16 assists. Taylor Thomas had a team-leading 23 digs.
 
The Warhawks start Sun Belt play at 6 p.m. Thursday at Texas State in San Marcos.