MONROE, La. – Appalachian State volleyball improved to 4-0 in Sun Belt play with a 25-11, 25-23, 25-21 triumph at ULM on Sunday.
It marks the second straight season and third time overall that App State (8-9, 4-0 SBC) has started 4-0 in Sun belt play since joining the league in the 2014 season.
In the win, the Black and Gold hit .351, which is its second best hitting percentage of the season, trailing only a .354 hitting mark against Western Carolina on Sept. 12.
Emma Longley and
Kara Spicer paced the Mountaineer offense with 12 kills each. Longley hit .194 and added nine digs, while Spicer did not record a hitting error and hit .667.
Victoria Wilform had nine kills and
Grace Morrison added seven.
Sam Bickley dished out 36 assists and added six digs.
Emma Reilly tallied a team-high 13 digs and
Grace Kinsch reached double figures in digs for the third time this season with 10.
In the first set, the Mountaineers took control early, using an early 8-1 run to take a 10-3 lead. App State used a 7-0 run late in the set to open a 24-10 lead, eventually winning the frame 25-11 to open a 1-0 lead.
In Set 2, App State broke a 15-15 tie with three consecutive points, only to see the Warhawks (9-10, 0-4 SBC) answer with five of the next six points to take a 20-19 lead. ULM opened a 22-20 lead, before App State scored the next four points to take a 24-22 lead. Following a ULM point, Longley clinched the set for the Mountaineers with a kill to give them a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, ULM jumped out to a 11-7 lead. The Mountaineers came back to tie the set at 15-15, only to see the Warhawks score four straight points to take a 19-15 advantage. App State countered with the next five points to jump in front 20-19. With the score tied at 21-21, the Mountaineers reeled off the final four points to finish off the set and sweep.
App State will put its perfect Sun Belt start and four-match winning streak on the line on Friday at Arkansas State at 7:30 p.m. EST and Little Rock on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST.
