Troy subdues Warhawks

Kevin Wade, [email protected]

The Warhawks were shut out by the Troy Trojans on Friday night in three sets (25-16, 25-22, and 25-19). The Warhawks came into Friday’s evening matchup hoping to snap their nine-game losing stretch and claim their second conference win this season. 

This was ULM first time seeing Troy since 2019. ULM was their first win against the Trojans since 2017. 

“We used a different look, and also some different weapons, that we’ve been using in practice this week to give Troy a different look,” ULM head coach Charlie Olson said.

Even with the kill and error differentials just slightly favoring Troy, the Trojans convincingly controlled much of the contest.

“Troy’s ability to generate seven aces was ultimately the difference maker,” Olson said. 

ULM took early leads in all three sets but were outmatched by the Trojans’ stellar defense. 

In the first set, the Warhawks took an early 9-6 lead until Troy’s offense caught fire. Troy closed out the set with a 9-1 run and went up 1-0 in the contest. If the Warhawks had a chance to win a set, it would have been in set two—with a ball-handling error from Troy at 7-6. At this break, a kill from senior, Cali Assaley, shot the lead up two points.

ULM looked poised to break away with the 11-7 lead, yet the Warhawks’ offense stalled out and they eventually lost the lead after the score was tied at 16-16. ULM closed the gap late in the set but an error by ULM at set point put the Trojans up 2-0.

ULM had another chance to get ahead while down 22-21 to Troy—with another trojan error—but they were not able to capitalize. In the third set, the Trojans momentum from the two sets carried over and finished the sweep against the Warhawks 25-19.

The Warhawks look to bounce back as they travel against the Little Rock Trojans on Friday.

Cali Assaley finished the game with 18 kills, Mariana Volponi e Giordan finished with 18 assist and Madeline Hogan completed the match with 26 digs.