Beach Volleyball Falls To ULM Warharks, 5-0

MONROE, La. – The Privateers' top tandem of freshman Victoria Corcoran and redshirt-junior Cara Sander gave their opponent everything they could handle and the duo of sophomore Madison Miller and Courtney Roblez posted a three-set exhibition win, but it was not enough as the University of New Orleans beach volleyball team dropped a 5-0 decision to the ULM Warhawks on Thursday afternoon at the ULM Sand Courts.

Corcoran and Sander won the opening set against Kori Simpson and Hadley Swartz, 24-22, only to see the UML duo answer with a 21-10 decision in the second stanza. In the winner-take-all frame, the Warhawk pair was able to pull out a 15-12 victory to complete the sweep. In defeat, New Orleans fell to 3-5 on the year. ULM, meanwhile, improve to 4-5.

"Today was a learning experience for the team," UNO head coach Millicent Van Norden said. "We had consistent play from our top pair Cara and Victoria who are both setting a great example for the team on how to approach each match. They consistently do the basics well and give themselves a chance to strategize and outwork the opponent. They had a close loss in the deciding game, but we are proud of their performance. We weren't able to be consistent throughout with our other match ups and it cost us the match."

While not counting toward the team score Miller and Roblez won their opener against Holland Ponthieux and Ana Ribeiro, 21-17, and like the match at the top of the lineup, ULM sent the match into a third set with a 21-19 victory in the second stanza. This time around, the UNO team came out on top with a 15-11 decision.

Each of the other four pairs contests were decided in straight sets and the closest battle came in No. 4 action where freshman Rhyan Rand and sophomore Samantha Uline dropped a 21-17, 21-16 decision to Grace Convey and Bailey Smith. In No. 2 play, ULM's Delaney Drive and Gabby Love downed the UNO tandem of freshman Veronica Corcoran and sophomore Blessing Dunn – 21-19, 21-8 – while the Privateers' duo of senior Brook Frank and freshman Rachel Kuhn dropped a 21-17, 21-13 outing to the Warhawks' Claire Crossfield and Tara Jenkins. Rebecca Brown and Catherine Griffin accounted for ULM's final point of the afternoon with a 21-9, 21-14 victory over UNO senior Lauren Levy and freshman Brianna Vega.

The Privateers return to action on Friday, March 24, when they travel to Houston to participate in the Third Coast Classic. UNO will open the event with showdowns against host Houston Baptist and Texas A&M-Kingsville at 1 and 5 p.m., respectively, before taking on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 9 a.m. and ULM at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
 
ULM WARHAWKS (4-5) DEFEAT NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS (3-5): 5-0
No. 1: Kori Simpson/Hadley Swartz (ULM) def. Victoria Corcoran/Cara Sander (UNO) – 22-24, 21-10, 15-12
No. 2: Delaney Drive/Gabby Love (ULM) def. Veronica Corcoran/Blessing Dunn (UNO) – 21-19, 21-8
No. 3: Claire Crossfield/Tara Jenkins (ULM) def. Brook Frank/Rachel Kuhn (UNO) – 21-17, 21-13
No. 4: Grace Convey/Bailey Smith (ULM) def. Rhyan Rand/Samantha Uline (UNO) – 21-17, 21-16
No. 5: Rebecca Brown/Catherine Griffith (ULM) def. Lauren Levy/Brianna Vega (UNO) – 21-9, 21-14
Exhibition: Madison Miller/Courtney Roblez (UNO) def. Holland Ponthieux/Ana Ribeiro (ULM) – 21-17, 19-21, 15-11