FOLEY, Ala. -- The ULM beach volleyball team fell in the first round of the double-elimination Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament, 4-1, to Mercer on Thursday (April 24) at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Ala.

The Bears took the first point of the match following a 2-0 win for Jordan Paddock and Liv Diaz in the second pair versus Abby Ryno and Claire Williamson in 21-14, 21-15 set scores. ULM's Kaitlyn Beck and Madeline Marquez swept Mercer's Lexi Polychrones and Hollis Engel, 21-11, 21-18, in pair one. Mercer climbed ahead 2-1 after recording a 2-0 win in pair four when Nicole O'Mara and Kathryn Corbett won 21-14, 21-15 versus Katie Felts and Maggie Cox. The Bears secured the opening round match with a 2-1 win in pair three after Sydney Benson and Kate Hardie edged Avery Hunter and Kaelyn Fredette-Huffman 14-21, 21-16, 15-10. Mercer won a battle in pair five with a 23-21, 20-22, 19-17 victory for Reese Hood and Grace Rathburn versus ULM's Maddie Peterson and Brooke Bankston.

The Warhawks will play in an elimination match versus the loser of match 5 on Friday (April 25) morning at 11:30 a.m. from Foley.