MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas volleyball team suffered its first Great American loss of the season as visiting Arkansas Tech claimed a 3-1 decision in front of 391 fans Tuesday at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
 
The defending GAC champion Golden Suns (19-7, 7-1 GAC) won the first two sets, before the Lady Muleriders (16-5, 8-1 GAC) rallied in the third, but couldn't carry that momentum into the fourth set, losing by scores of 18-25, 15-25, 26-24, 18-25.
 
SAU had 48 kills to ATU's 43, but committed 26 attack errors to 16.  Tech also gathered points off 12 service aces and seven team blocks.
 
Carly Florian led the Golden Suns offense with 14 kills, while Brittany Ryan added 11.  Amber Cerrillos finished with five service aces, and Taylor Brown had a match-high 25 digs.
 
Southern Arkansas got a match-high 15 kills from junior outside hitter Courtney Geesing (Montrose, Colo.), and 13 from junior outside hitter Denise De Vine (Lake Elsinore, Calif.).
 
Junior setter Klaire Blasco Vine (Downey, Calif.) tossed up 36 assists and added three blocks and 16 digs, while junior libero Lauren Woods (Kennedale, Texas) had 24 digs.  Blasco Vine and Woods are each the reigning GAC players of the week at their respective positions.
 
With the loss, the Lady Muleriders drop to second in the league standings at 8-1, while Harding takes over the top spot alone at 8-0 after their 3-0 win over Arkansas-Monticello Tuesday.  ATU is a half match behind SAU at 7-1.
 
Southern Arkansas hits the road for its next four matches, including stepping out of conference play for the next three.  They travel Thursday to Shreveport, La., for a 4 p.m. neutral site match against Millsaps (Miss.) and then face Centenary (La.) at 8 p.m.  Saturday they'll be in Dallas for a 3 p.m. meeting with Dallas Baptist.