[October 16, 2007]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Arkansas Tech had thrown 3-0 shutouts at Southern Arkansas in their previous two meetings, but the Lady Muleriders returned the favor Tuesday, tossing it back at the Gulf South Conference co-West Division leading Golden Suns with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-27) blanking of their own.

ATU won the teams’ final meeting last year and had scored the shutout earlier this season in Russellville before SAU pulled Tuesday’s upset at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center. Tech, along with Harding and Henderson State, was sitting atop the GSC West Division standings with a 6-1 record prior to the contest. With the win, and moving to 3-5 in GSC play, Southern Arkansas keeps its hopes alive of claiming the final West Division berth in the post-season conference tournament. Ouachita Baptist (4-4 GSC) remains one game ahead of the Lady Muleriders.

The match was short on offensive fireworks, as the Golden Suns’ Racheal Urquhart posted a match-high 16 kills and SAU’s Shelly Jones put up 13, the only two players in double-figures in that category. Defense was key as Southern Arkansas held ATU to a .090 hitting percentage.

Sarah Bell and Kristina Daily aided Jones, each finishing with eight kills for the Lady Muleriders. Andrea Spradlin and Kayli Kerr served up 23 and 15 assists, respectively, for their teammates. Mallory McKee led a strong SAU defense with a match-high 26 digs, and got help from Cristina Correa’s 17, while Jones and Spradlin added 12 apiece. Veronica Ogbeide had three blocks at the net.

Kayla Allison tossed up 24 assists for Arkansas Tech, Ashley Camp had 20 digs, and Dana Florian finished with three blocks.

Southern Arkansas hits the road over the next 11 days, starting Friday in Memphis for a 6 p.m. GSC match at Christian Brothers. The Lady Muleriders don’t play at home again until October 28 when they host Texas College in non-conference action in a 3 p.m. match that will serve as SAU’s senior day.

#SAU#