COMMERCE, Texas – The ULM volleyball team (0-1) fell 3-1 (21-25, 24-26, 25-15, 20-25) in its opening match of the season against Southern Illinois (1-0) on Friday afternoon (Aug. 28). Despite a convincing third-set win from the Warhawks, the Salukis took the four-set win.  

Second-year Aniya Hall led ULM's offense with 16 kills, while first-year Tatum Clay produced six total blocks in her Warhawk debut. Fifth-year Briana Raney recorded a career-high 17 digs and added a service ace.  

 The Salukis jumped out to a three-point lead to begin the match, but the Warhawks answered with three unanswered points of their own, capitalized by a kill from fourth-year Abby Cunningham. From there, the two teams traded the lead until the Salukis took an 18-16 advantage, powered by five straight points. ULM closed the gap once again on a service error, making the score 22-21 for Southern Illinois. The Salukis won the set 25-21 with back-to-back blocks, making it 1-0.  

The second set started with a 7-7 tie. The Warhawks built an 18-14 lead thanks to kills from fourth-year Marissa Kobelski and Hall, and service aces from second-year Bre Perrin and Hall. Southern Illinois fought right back, winning five of the next six points to tie it back up at 19 apiece. ULM brought the score to 24-22 on another kill by Cunningham, but couldn't close the deal, dropping the set 26-24.  

The Salukis earned a 4-0 lead to start the third, but the Warhawks quickly responded, taking an 8-6 lead. ULM steadily built its lead to 14-9, with first-year Myla Matavao contributing a kill and second-year Eden Pietrzak adding a service ace. The Warhawks won seven of the next 10 points, increasing the score to 21-12. ULM won three straight points to bring it to set point, then won 25-15 on a Saluki error.  

Despite the third-set Warhawk win, the Salukis jumped to another lead in the fourth set. ULM trailed by as many as nine points before going on a 6-0 run to make the score 21-18 Southern Illinois. However, the Warhawks couldn't overcome the early deficit and fell 25-20 in the fourth and final set to drop the first match of the season.  

ULM will be back in action at the Lion Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. against Texas Southern.