CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The ULM beach volleyball team (5-16, 0-4 SBC) opened the Islanders Classic, hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with two matches. The Warhawks held on in a 3-2 defeat by Tarleton State, before a 5-0 sweep by Pepperdine concluded the day.
Match 1: Tarleton State 3, ULM 2
In reversing the score of the teams previous meetings, the Texans claimed the 3-2 victory. On court one,
Abby Ryno and
Claire Williamson fell in straight sets (22-20, 21-19). While
Paige Ingersoll and
Avery Hunter forced a third set, they also dropped for Tarleton's second point (13-21, 21-18, 15-11).
Brooke Bankston and
Maddie Peterson claimed ULM's first point with a victory in flight three (21-17, 21-19).
Calli Otjen and
Ava Sondrup also clinched a point on court five (21-17, 21-17). It was Taylor Orris and Salome Lira Galvez who clinched the point for TSU over
Izabela Zukowska and
Samantha Rodriguez (21-16, 21-19).
Match 2: Pepperdine 5, ULM 0
Even in forcing an extended second set, Ryno/Williamson fell as pair one (21-16, 22-20). Ingersoll/Hunter then also fell in straight sets (21-12, 21-16), along with Peterson/Bankston on court three (21-19, 21-5). Zukowska/Rodriguez forced a third set, but ultimately dropped in extended scores (18-21, 21-17, 16-14). Otjen/Sondrup were also swept, as Pepperdine clinched the fifth and final point (22-20, 21-17).
The Warhawks will be back in action on Saturday (April 4). ULM will take on CSU Bakersfield at 9 a.m. and host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m.
