MONROE, La. – There were plenty of opportunities for the ULM volleyball team to split the weekend series on Friday, but it couldn't take advantage of them in a 3-1 loss (28-26, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24) to South Alabama at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
 
In set one, the Jaguars (13-3 overall; 4-0 Sun Belt) raced to a 9-6 lead. ULM (4-14 overall; 0-4 Sun Belt) answered with an 8-2 scoring run to take a three-point lead. South Alabama responded with a 5-2 run to tie the set. The Warhawks were up 22-19 late in the set, but the Jaguars scored five unanswered points to claim the lead. ULM outscored them 4-2 to tie the set at 26-26, but it couldn't capitalize as South Alabama finished the set with two kills to take a 1-0 set lead.
 
Trailing 10-6 in the second set, the Jaguars scored four straight points to tie it at ten all. ULM used a 4-1 run to reclaim control. After the two teams went back and forth, ULM used another 4-1 run to take a 21-16 lead. South Alabama wasn't done yet and scored six out of the next eight points to cut the lead to one. The Warhawks won the set with a kill by Brynn Botkin and an attack error.
 
Set three started close with a 6-5 Jaguar lead. They then went on a 7-3 run to widen the gap to five. South Alabama led by as much as seven with an 18-11 lead, but the Warhawks didn't go down quietly. They scored eight out of the next 11 points the cut the lead to two. The Jaguars used one last 4-1 run to end the set.
 
ULM started set four on fire with a 9-2 scoring run. South Alabama responded with a 10-4 run to make it a one-point game. The Warhawks got back on track with a 4-1 run. The Jaguars didn't go away and the Warhawk lead was no bigger than four. With the score at 22-20, South Alabama scored six out of the last eight points to win the set and complete the series sweep.
 
Ariana Brown once again led the team in kills with 14, and Botkin was right behind her with 13 kills. Botkin also compiled 3 blocks on the match. Bailey Roberson had a team-leading 26 assists. Cameron Rogers produced 19 digs which led the team.
 
The Warhawks continue Sun Belt Conference play when they travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to take on Southern Miss. The two-game series takes place on Thursday and Friday with both games starting at 6 p.m.