Maher’s Defense, Serving Leads Little Rock to 3-0 at ULM Friday Night

MONROE, La. – Leigh Maher registered 30 digs tied a career-high three service aces while Alyssa Nayar set up 36 assists as Little Rock gutted out a 3-0 win at ULM Friday evening.
 
With the win, Little Rock (3-13, 3-12 Sun Belt) has clinched the No. 5 West seed for the Sun Belt Tournament, which starts Nov. 18 in Foley, Alabama. ULM (1-19, 0-14) will be the No. 6 West seed.
 
Set scores were 28-26, 25-22 and 25-19. The opening set marked the 13^th time this season Little Rock has gone to extra points and is the 21^st time this year a set has been decided by two points.
 
The 30 digs by Maher are the most by a Sun Belt player in a three-set match this season. And while she dominated the defensive effort, the Trojans found balance on offense. Janae Thurston led that effort with 10 kills while Laura Jansen and Zanobia Willis added nine kills each, marking a new career-high kills for Willis.
 
ULM was led by Haley Coulter's 12 kills while four different Warhawks reached double-digit digs, paced by Madeline Hogan's 23 digs.
 
Behind the Box Score

• The opening set featured 14 ties and eight lead changes.
• Leigh Maher clinched the opening frame with an ace.
• Little Rock hit .184 in the second set but held ULM to a .042 hitting percentage.
• Alyssa Nayar served up an ace the second set.
• Laura Jansen and Zanobia Willis led the Trojans with three kills in the second set.
• The Trojans hit a match-high .357 in the final set while limiting ULM to .156.
• Little Rock served up four aces in the final set.
• The Trojans had a 12-10 lead in the frame before going on a 7-0 run to put the set out of reach.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 10, Janae Thurston
Assists: 36, Alyssa Nayar
Service Aces: 3, Leigh Maher
Digs: 30, Leigh Maher
Blocks: 5, Nicole Medlin
 
Notables

• Little Rock now leads the all-time series over ULM, 36-3.
• The Trojans are now 19-0 when playing in Monroe.
• Leigh Maher's 30 digs are the most by a Sun Belt player in a three-set match this season.
• Maher tied a career-high with three service aces.
• Halee Pedro tied a career-high with two service aces.
• The opening set (28-26) marked the 13^th time this season Little Rock has gone to extra points. The Trojans are 3-10 in those sets.
• That also marked the 21^st time this season a set has been decided by two points. The Trojans are 6-15 in those sets.

 
For the latest information on Little Rock Volleyball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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