MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of West Georgia Volleyball team split day one of the Warhawk Invitational, with a win coming against Miles College and a heartbreaking five-set loss to Southern Arkansas.

West Georgia (5-3) put on another defensive clinic in match one against Miles College (2-4) as the Wolves held the Golden Bears to a season-low 25 kills on a season-low .051 hitting percentage, leading to the fifth win of the season for UWG. The Wolves struggled to contain Southern Arkansas' (5-6) explosive offense in match two as the Muleriders put down 70 kills on a .289 hitting percentage.

The offensive struggles for Miles started early as the Golden Bears committed five errors to begin, leading to a 10-6 West Georgia lead. Moments later, a kill from Caitlin Frazee sparked a 4-1 run for the Wolves, extending their lead to 14-8. Midway through the set, Miles finally found their offensive flow as a kill from their kill leader Kiera Washington began a 4-1 run for the Golden Bears, cutting West Georgia's lead to three. The Wolves quickly responded, with a kill from Sanai Young that swung the momentum back in favor of UWG, leading to a 25-19 set win.

West Georgia got off to a slow start in set two as Miles took a 10-6 lead. The Wolves delivered their counterpunch, by scoring the next four points to even the score at 10. The two teams then traded 3-0 runs before UWG created some separation with a 4-0 run. Much like the theme of the set, Miles fired back and tied us up at 24 late in the set until an attack error and a kill from Taylor Allen won the set for the Wolves, 27-25.

West Georgia thoroughly dominated set three as the Wolves jumped out to a 12-3 lead behind four kills from the league leader in kills, Zoë LaBreche. LaBreche and company never let their foot off the gas, cruising to a 25-13 set win, with freshman Allison Bowser closing out the match with a service ace.

LaBreche led the way with 12 kills on a .381 hitting percentage, while Sarah Pipping and Sanai Young both recorded seven kills.

Match Two vs Southern Arkansas:

West Georgia found themselves down 16-9 in set one until a kill from Taylor Allen completely flipped the script. The kill from Allen was the beginning of a 9-2 run, tying the game at 18 before Southern Arkansas won the next seven points to win the set, 25-18.

UWG responded in the second set, beginning by taking a 12-7 lead after a block from Ashley Barnes and Marley Staats. Southern Arkansas scored four of the next five points to cut West Georgia's lead to two until a kill from LaBreche sparked a 5-1 run, extending the Wolves lead to 18-12. The Muleriders fought to make the set close, but UWG went on to win the set, 25-22 after another kill from LaBreche.

Set three followed the theme of set two, very competititve. Southern Arkansas narrowly won the race to 10 to begin, but would later surrender the lead to West Georgia as the Wolves took a 15-12 lead after a service ace from Taylor Allen. Southern Arkansas took the momemtum right back from UWG as the Muleriders used a 7-1 run to take a 20-18 lead late. West Georgia continued to battle to the end of the set, but Southern Arkansas would go on to take it, 25-23.

Set four was another high intensity battle, with UWG taking a commnding 12-5 lead to start. Like much of gthe match, the Muleriders fought back and chipped away at the Wolves' lead, evening the score at 18. Moments later, Southern Arkansas used a 4-1 run to take a 22-19 lead, putting all the pressure on West Georgia, but the Wolves didn't fold as a kill from LaBreche ignited a 6-1 run that won the set, 25-23 for UWG.

It all came down to the fifth and final set, and much like their five-set loss to Georgia College last Saturday, West Georgia made critical errors that put them behind the eight ball. Three straight errors from the Wolves began a 6-2 run for the Muleriders before UWG found their rhythm again and used an 8-4 run to tie the set at 10 apiece. After the two teams traded points, Southern Arkansas scored three straight points to take a 14-11 lead. Taylor Allen kept West Georgia alive with two straight points, but Southern Arkansas went on to win the set, 15-13.

"We are learning through heartbreak right now with another five-set loss this weekend," said head coach Kara Hellmann. "We continue to be proud of this group, and we are bought in and trusting the process. We continue to battle and improve each time out and look forward to an opportunity to bounce back tomorrow morning."

LaBreche recorded a career-high 27 points and tied her career-high in kills with 22, while Young accumulated a career-high 13 kills and a career-high 15 points. Allen also had a career-high 15 points and tied her career-high in kills with 10.

West Georgia will be back in action on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. for a rematch with Albany State.