PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The ULM volleyball team (7-11) defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-14) in straight sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-14) on Monday night in its final nonconference matchup of the season.
ULM hit a season-best .333 (39-9-90) against the Lady Lions and held UAPB to -.035 hitting (2-23-86), also a season best.
Abby Cunningham led the Warhawk offense with 11 kills, committing just one error to hit a career-high .476 (11-1-21). Aniya Hall hit a career-high .467 (8-1-15) as well, making eight kills. Hall added a team-high 14 digs against the Lady Lions.
Tatum Clay matched her career-high four solo blocks, and the middle blocker contributed a personal-best four digs. Libero Eden Pietrzak put up two aces for the Warhawks.
The first set saw both teams battle for lead, with ULM scoring four straight points to lead 16-13. The Lady Lions stayed close behind, getting within one point, but the Warhawks never surrendered that lead. ULM took the set 25-20, capitalized by Abby Cunningham's fourth kill of the match.
The second set began similar to the first, with tight margins early. The Warhawks broke out with a seven-point spree to lead 10-5. ULM kept building, bringing a 15-9 lead into the media timeout, forcing UAPB errors. Five consecutive points grew the lead for the Warhawks to 20-11. Cunningham and Hall contributed four kills each, and ULM took the set by 10 points. The Warhawks did not commit an error during the set, and outhit the Lady Lions .556 to .031.
ULM carried the momentum from the second set into the third, jumping out to a 5-1 lead after three straight UAPB errors. The Warhawks held steady throughout, leading 15-6 at the break after a kill by Marissa Kobelski. ULM led by as many as 15 points, and sealed the set on Abby Cunningham's swing, 25-14.
UP NEXT —
The Warhawks will travel to Alabama to face Troy and continue Sun Belt play. The series will begin on Friday, October 9 at 6 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m.
