The ULM beach volleyball team opened its 2019 slate this weekend when the team headed to Birmingham, Alabama to take part in the Blazer Beach Bash, hosted by UAB on Friday and Saturday.

The Warhawks had a successful weekend and defeated Jacksonville State 5-0, Huntingdon College 5-0 and North Alabama 3-2. ULM’s only loss of the weekend came at the hands of UAB with ULM losing 3-2.

Last season, the Warhawks finished 9-12 overall and split their last four matches of the season.

“We are finally playing this weekend,” said Sara Rishell, head coach. “Our athletes are hungry to compete against someone other than their teammates, and are fully prepared for the weekend ahead.”

Huntingdon College and North Alabama are fresh programs this year, but the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a very established team, which has received votes to be considered in the Top 20 in the AVCA         Coaches Poll.

For the second time in program history and first time since the 2015 campaign, the ULM beach volleyball team opened the season with a win by virtue of a 5-0 sweep over Jacksonville State on Friday in the Blazer Beach Bash in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Despite the pouring rain, our team held their composure,” Rishell said. “Our big focus this season has been developing a mindset and a ‘no excuses’ attitude. Instead of making excuses and blaming the rain, we used the rain to our advantage.”

ULM claimed the team victory when the tandem of Tamara Merseli and Kayla Gallant emerged with a 21-9, 21-9 triumph over the Gamecocks’ Mackenzie Rombach and Hailey Hughes on court three.

The ULM beach volleyball team rolled to a second 5-0 victory on Friday when it downed Huntingdon College in the second match of the Blazer Beach Bash in Birmingham, Alabama. The win, which followed a 5-0 triumph against Jacksonville State earlier in the morning, moved the Warhawks to 2-0 on the season for the first time in the program’s seven-year history.