[September 29, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

DENTON, Texas – Southern Arkansas snapped a four-match losing skid with a 3-2 win (16-25, 25-18, 25-18, 14-25, 15-13) Monday over Texas Woman’s at Kitty Magee Arena.

After falling in the first set, the Lady Muleriders out-scored the Pioneers 9-3 down the stretch to claim the second game win, and then broke a 15-15 deadlock with a 10-3 spree to capture the third set. TWU then bounced back with the fourth set win to force the deciding fifth frame. The two teams stayed even through the fifth until Veronica Ogbeide and Sarah Bell connected on two kills to seal the win for SAU.

It wasn’t a pretty match as both teams suffered terrible offensive performances, Southern Arkansas hitting just .044 as a team and Texas Woman’s only .039. The Lady Muleriders committed 35 attack errors, while the Pioneers had 29.

Danielle Sneed posted a season and match-high 16 kills in leading SAU, while Ogbeide added 10 and had four blocks. Michaela Scroggins finished with 36 assists, and Sneed served up three aces.

Mallory McKee helped lead Southern Arkansas’ defensive effort with 21 digs. Bell chipped in 15, Kaci Matthews had 11 and Scroggins finished with 10.

Sharon Schaffner recorded nine kills to pace TWU. Kendra Coulson recorded a match-high 27 digs, and LyGene Traylor had six blocks. All 15 Texas Woman’s players saw action in the match.

The match got the Lady Muleriders back on the winning track as they hadn’t seen a victory since a 3-0 shutout of Central Baptist College on September 13.

SAU returns to Gulf South Conference play Thursday when they travel to face Arkansas-Monticello in a 7 p.m. match. They return home Sunday, hosting Christian Brothers in a 1 p.m. contest that will serve as Alumni Day. The team will also be honoring long-time volleyball coach Dr. Ginger Hurst that day.