HAMMOND, La. – For the first time since 2021, ULM volleyball will come out of the opening weekend with a winning record, as it pulled out a thrilling five-set win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
 
The Warhawks (2-1) came back from a 2-0 set deficit, the first since Sept 14, 2021, which was also against the Bulldogs (1-2).
 
"I'm very proud of today's performance," head coach Reid Gann said. "We showed a lot of heart and determination to come back and win after losing the first two sets."
 
Both teams started the first set tied at 6-6 before Louisiana Tech built a 5-0 run to take control. With the score at 15-11, ULM scored four unanswered supported by kills from Madison Derden and Kennedy Plummer. The Bulldogs took matters into their own hands for the rest of the set, scoring ten of the final 13 points to run away with the 1-0 lead.
 
The second set was another back-and-forth contest to start, with Louisiana Tech holding a narrow 11-10 lead. ULM responded with a 5-2 scoring run aided by two kills from Plummer and Kenzie Behl. The Warhawks had control late, with leads of 22-19 and 24-22, but the Bulldogs didn't go away. Trailing by two, they produced a 5-1 run to steal the set from ULM and build an overwhelming 2-0 set lead.
 
Trailing 4-1 in set three, the Warhawks scored five straight points to gain the lead. The Bulldogs worked the score in their favor at 14-13, but ULM again caught fire with an 8-2 run caused in large part by five Louisiana Tech errors. However, a 6-1 run by the Bulldogs tied things back up at 22-22 before Aniya Hall and Morgan Howard combined for the final three kills to give ULM its first set win of the match.
 
An 8-4 start to the fourth set gave the Warhawks control early, which included a 5-1 run in the midst of it. Louisiana Tech closed the gap to one before three unanswered Warhawk points put the set at 14-10. The Bulldogs again climbed their way back with a 5-2 stretch before three attack errors and four kills gave ULM a 7-2 run to establish control late. Two combined kills from Behl and Hall sealed the set, and the Warhawks forced their first five-set contest of the season.
 
In the fifth and final set, the Warhawks started strong with a 4-1 advantage. Tech responded with a 5-1 run to take the lead before two kills from Derden and Plummer reset the advantage. Trailing 9-8, ULM used another 4-1 run to take back control 12-10 and again scored two straight to take it to match point, leading 14-11. After two timeouts and a Bulldogs point, Plummer laid down the final strike as the Warhawks completed the comeback.
 
ULM led in the hitting percentage category with .120 compared to .103 for Louisiana Tech. Behl and Hall both collected 12 kills each, with Plummer and Derden also totaling 11. Howard put up 26 assists with backup Kristine Bakhad producing 16. Libero Camryn Kimes led with 18 digs.
 
Hall and Behl also represented ULM well by making the Southeastern Showdown All-Tournament team.
 
"I'm hoping this weekend will build our confidence as we move forward," Gann said.
 
The Warhawks are back in action in Lake Charles with the Cowgirl Classic next weekend.