Warhawks volleyball succeeded at snapping a 44-set losing streak to Texas State on Friday with a 25-15 win in the first set. But the more daunting streak of 23 consecutive wins by the Bobcats lives on as they bested ULM on Thursday 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-20) and 3-1 (15-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-22) the following day in their Sun Belt Conference opener.

The offense of Texas State flowed through its elite setter Emily DeWalt. The four-time SBC Setter of the Year and 2021 SBC Player of the Year generously handed out 89 assists to her teammates through the seven sets against ULM. 

It took a collaborative effort of an ace from middle blocker Madeline Williams, libero Cameron Rogers, outside hitter Taylor Thomas, and four Texas State errors late in the first set to take a lead against the Bobcats. 

The Texas State defense shifted to hold ULM to a measly .071 attack percentage on the next set. A 9-1 run midway through the second set by the Bobcats constructed a lead that the Warhawks could not recover from.

ULM played the opening of the fourth set with the full intention of rocking Texas State and forcing a fifth set. The Warhawks stole the lead courtesy of a 9-0 run filled with Bobcat blunders and finished with a double serving of aces from setter Bailey Roberson. Even as the Bobcats cut the lead down, ULM delivered with kills to keep a narrow edge. But the experienced Bobcats’ outside hitter Jada Gardner scored three of the final four points for the Bobcats in a comeback win to ice ULM and secure the sweep.

Knowing the caliber of the opponent, volleyball head coach Charlie Olson took pride in the first set win over Texas State and called Friday’s contest a “bounce back” performance compared to Thursday’s outing.

The next stop for ULM will be another challenge. The Warhawks visit Mobile, Alabama this Thursday and Friday to challenge the defending SBC champion South Alabama Jaguars.