LAKE CHARLES, La. – Aniya Hall connected for 22 kills in a 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-14) win for ULM volleyball over the host McNeese on Saturday afternoon.
 
"Really proud of this win today on the road," head coach Reid Gann said. "We played the game with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm."
 
The Warhawks (4-2) wasted no time early with a 6-0 run to start. They built a 10-2 lead, helped by Kenzie Behl and Kennedy Plummer, collecting two kills each. After the Cowgirls (3-3) produced a 4-1 run, ULM responded with three unanswered points to widen the gap. McNeese climbed back into it again, this time using a 6-2 run, to make the deficit 17-13.
 
Thanks in large part to two kills by Plummer, the Warhawks reached set-point leading 24-17. The Cowgirls scored four in a row to make it close, but an attack error ended the set, giving ULM a 1-0 match lead.
 
The two squads traded blows at the start of the second, with a 9-9 score as a result. Three errors by McNeese gave ULM a three-point cushion. With a 15-13 score, the Cowgirls used two errors, a kill, and an ace to score four straight, claiming the lead. The Warhawks responded with a 5-1 run powered by three kills from Hall.
 
Another kill by Plummer plus two attack errors put ULM in front 23-19. McNeese closed the margin to two late, but Madison Derden ended the set, and ULM possessed a 2-0 match advantage.
 
After a 4-4 score in set three, the Cowgirls rode a 7-2 run to seize control 11-6. The Warhawks flew high with a 7-2 run of their own to tie the set at 13 all. Both teams went back and forth following the scoring runs, putting ULM ahead 20-19 late. Two McNeese kills and two Warhawk errors put the home team up by two, and an ace along with a kill ended the set, extending the match to a fourth set.
 
Both teams battled to begin the set, as they fought to a 6-6 stalemate. The Warhawks decided to take matters into their own hands, produced scoring runs of 7-1 and 6-1 to go up 19-9. They never looked back and cruised to a dominating 25-14 set four win, ending the match.
 
Hall and Plummer earned Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament team honors with both produced double-digit kills on the day. Paige Meins returned from injury and gave ULM 20 assists with Howard having 18. Briana Raney, Howard, and Derden all totaled double-digit digs with 16, 15, and 12, respectively.
 
ULM's 4-2 record is the best start in six matches since the 2019 season. It's won as many games as last year's campaign through two weekend tournaments.
 
The Warhawks don't have to wait long for their next match, as Northwestern State awaits them in Natchitoches on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m.