SHREVEPORT, La. – Stepping out of Great American Conference play, Southern Arkansas lost a 3-0 decision to Millsaps (Miss.) before rebounding with a 3-0 shutout of Centenary (La.) in a tri-match event Thursday at the Gold Dome.
 
The Majors (18-4) had a .287 attack percentage and totaled 44 kills to the Lady Muleriders' (17-6) 39 in picking up the first match win.
 
Caroline McKey led the Millsaps attack with 12 kills.
 
SAU got 12 kills from senior hitter Courtney Smith (Mansfield, Texas), with junior outside hitter Denise De Vine (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) picking up nine.
 
Junior libero Lauren Woods (Kennedale, Texas) finished with a match-high 24 digs.
 
Southern Arkansas got back on the winning track in the Centenary match, hitting .278 with 44 kills, while limiting the Ladies (1-22) to only 25.  They also tallied seven service aces, getting three from freshman defensive specialist Kelsey Webb (Fort Smith).
 
Junior outside hitter Courtney Geesing (Montrose, Colo.) provided a match-high 14 kills, and senior middle hitter Monica Cox (Channelview, Texas) added nine.
 
Woods had a match-high 17 digs, and Geesing and De Vine finished with 15 apiece.
 
Rachel Perkins had six kills to lead Centenary.
 
The Lady Muleriders travel Saturday to Dallas for a 3 p.m. match with Dallas Baptist, before returning to conference play Tuesday at Harding.