RUSTON, La. — The ULM volleyball team (3-6) fell 1-3 (25-21, 27-29, 21-25, 24-26) to Northwestern State (3-6) on Friday evening. Sophomore Aniya Hall led the Warhawks with a double-double, recording 16 kills and 17 digs.
The first set was highlighted by five aces from the Warhawks, with three coming from Tatum Clay and two from Morgan Howard. ULM jumped out to an early 7-5 lead, powered by two quick kills from Aniya Hall and back-to-back aces from Tatum Clay. The set remained close, with eight ties leading up to the media timeout, when the Demons lead 15-14. ULM reclaimed the lead on a five-point run, highlighted by kills from Grace Troxell and Clay. Marissa Kobelski's kill brought it to point, and Abby Cunningham's made it 25-21 Warhawks.
The second set was tightly contested, with sixteen ties and a score that went all the way to 29 points. The Warhawks held a two-point lead at multiple points throughout the set and brought the score to three ULM set points but couldn't capitalize. The Demons won it 29-27 on a kill by Elsie Sanchez to tie the score at 1-1.
The Demons took control of the third set with a four-point lead at 14-10 and carried it into the media timeout. Northwestern State built it up to as much as a five-point lead, but ULM chipped away at it and came within one point after a Kenzie Behl kill to force a Demon timeout at 17-16. But the deficit was too much to overcome, and Northwestern State built its lead back to take the set 25-21.
The Demons carried that momentum into the fourth set, building a lead as large as seven and leading by six points at the media timeout. The Warhawks rallied back all the way, tying the score at 18-18 after an Aniya Hall ace. ULM claimed the lead for the first time in the set after a 6-0 run, making the score 22-19. But the Demons swung the set back in their favor, winning the set 26-24, and taking the match 3-1.
Thw Warhawks will be back in action tomorrow, September 11, against Mississippi Valley State at b1Bank Fant Coliseum. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
