TEMPE, Ariz.— Tiara Kelley had a game and career-high 16 kills and Rachel Smith had a season-high 14, but it was not enough as the Lady Hornets fell to Louisiana-Monroe 3-2 (18-25, 28-26, 22-25, 30-28, 15-10).
It was a game which featured 34 tie scores and 19 lead changes, but in the end it was ASU’s hitting percentage that came back to haunt them as they hit .141 for the game.
“This was a great volleyball game between two teams that were playing as hard as they could,” Head Coach Penny Lucas-White said. “I was extremely proud of how the girls never gave up, especially in that fourth game when we were down 19-10. I have said it before I never have to worry about this team playing hard.”
“I am very disappointed in the loss and the fact we had to come from behind in every game. We made almost 50 hitting and receiving errors and that turned out to be our downfall. We have to become more consistent if we are to become a championship contender.”
Three players recorded double-doubles for ASU. Brooke Beasley had 25 assists and 10 digs, Ellyn Jones had 18 assists and 10 digs and Smith added 12 digs to go along with her 14 kills.
For the 12th time this season ASU recorded more blocks than their opponent. ASU finished the game with nine total blocks compared to five for ULM. Myla Marshall and Amber Bennett led the way with three blocks each.
In the first set too many hitting errors cost ASU in the 25-18 loss. The Lady Hornets committed 12 hitting errors and hit -.086 in the game. ULM was not much better; hitting only .033 in the game, but did not commit as many errors as ASU. There were six ties and five lead changes in the game before the Warhawks went on a late run.
The second game started like the first one ended with ASU making several hitting errors and falling down by as many as seven (15-8), but that is when ASU begin to come back eventually catching ULM at 19. From there the score was tied all the way out to 26 when ASU was able to pull out the final two points for the win at 28-26.
Both teams battled back and forth in the third game with neither team leading by more than four points. ULM was able to win the final points on a side out for the final 25-22 score.
ASU trailed 19-10 in the fourth set, but was able to come all the way back to even the score at 22. After six more ties, ASU pulled out the final point on an Ellyn Jones service ace for the final 30-28 score and to send the game to a fifth and deciding game.
Another close one in the fifth with five ties and three lead changes, but ULM’s 6-2 run to end the set ended with a 15-10 win.
ASU (5-9) will play two games tomorrow facing host Arizona State at 2 p.m. and playing Cal Poly at 7 p.m. in their final game of the tournament.
-Hornets-
