Georgia Southern volleyball lost in a close five sets to the visiting Louisiana Monroe Warhawks Thursday night during the Eagle Madness fan event. The loss drops the Eagles to 6-12 and 1-6 in conference play this season. 

ULM, 10-12 and 1-6 in the conference, swapped sets with the Eagles before sealing the win with a 15-11 fifth set. Each team tied with 59 kills apiece, but a six ace and three block advantage combination was enough for the Warhawks to gain an edge. 

The Warhawks, after a 25-19 fourth set win, reeled off five straight points to tear open a 10-5 lead in the fifth set, where they would win 15-11.

Senior Carly Turner and sophomore Haley Fuller received “Eagles of the Match” honors. Turner turned in a 16 kill, nine dig, three block effort and Fuller added another 11 kills and nine digs to give the Eagles a chance. 

A tight 18-16 lead in the fourth set gave the Eagles a window, but two straight aces from ULM’s Chloe Corenza’s two aces helped to full a 9-1 run and a fifth set.

Coach Chad Willis, when asked on the Eagle’s struggles in finishing sets, remained positive.

“I think that’s still part of the mentality we’re trying to change,” he said. “We’re not in a spot where we can take plays off. We have to work hard every single play, work hard every single rep. You’ve put yourself in a position to be there, now you just have to close out a set. A lot of that is due to our youth on the court, and we’ll continue to work on that and get better.”

In a quick turnaround, GS hosts a 5-13 Louisiana Lafayette team on Friday at 6:30.

Michael Smith, The George-Anne Sports Reporter, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu