SAN MARCOS, Texas – ULM volleyball dropped its conference opener at Texas State, 3-1, (25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-11) Thursday night at Strahan Arena.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the first set, the Warhawks (4-11 overall; 0-1 Sun Belt) went on a 5-1 scoring run to take control. With a 10-8 lead, ULM couldn't hold it as the Bobcats (8-4 overall; 1-0 Sun Belt) produced an 8-1 run to take a five-point lead. The Warhawks used another 5-1 scoring run to narrow the lead to one. Texas State used a 5-1 run of its own to bring the lead back to five. A final attack error sealed the set win for the Bobcats.
 
In set two, ULM started fast with a 6-2 score. Trailing by three, Texas State scored five straight points to take the lead. For the next 16 points scored, the two teams went back and forth, with every point scored being answered by the other team. With a one-point deficit, the Warhawks broke the spell and scored nine out of the final ten points to tie the match 1-1.
 
In the third set, it was the Bobcats who started fast as they produced a 5-1 lead. The Warhawks closed the gap to one point, but Texas State scored four straight to make it a five-point deficit. It was a close set with ULM once again fighting back and narrowing the lead to one. However, with the score at 24-23, a final kill by Jade Dafraeye gave the Bobcats the set.
 
Texas State established control in set four. It started with an 11-4 lead and didn't look back. At one point, the Bobcats scored nine points in a row. Texas State won the set and the first match of the two-game series.
 
Brynn Botkin had a team-leading 12 kills. Bailey Roberson and Morgan Howard once again led the team with 19 and 14 assists. Cameron Rogers and Taylor Thomas both had 11 digs each.
 
The Warhawks face off against the Bobcats tomorrow for game two at 6 p.m.