ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas grabbed its ninth consecutive win with a 3-1 decision over Ouachita Baptist in Great American Conference volleyball action Tuesday at Bill Vining Arena.  Scores were 26-24, 25-18, 22-25 and 25-22.
 
Junior outside hitter Denise De Vine (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) led the Lady Muleriders (11-2, 6-0 GAC) with 13 kills and also had 15 digs.  Junior outside hitter Courtney Geesing (Montrose, Colo.) added 11 kills and 13 digs, and senior middle hitter Courtney Smith (Mansfield, Texas) chipped in 10 kills and hit .562 in the match.
 
The Lady Tigers (4-13, 1-5 GAC) got 10 kills from Megan Askew, and a match-high 23 digs from Allison Frizzell.
 
SAU's impressive season rolls on as it has reached its best start since the 1989 team won its first 16 matches and stood at 39-2 before finishing the season in the NAIA bi-district tournament at 42-4, the school's highest winning percentage in history.  That team also won 18 consecutive matches later in the season.
 
This year's 6-0 conference mark also matches the 1989 team's league record as they went on to win the AIC (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) championship with an 11-1 mark, and then the NAIA District 17 tournament championship.  The six consecutive league wins are also a school-best as two-year members of the GAC and 16 years as former members of the Gulf South Conference.
 
Third-year Head Coach Steven Gream's 2012 squad's nine straight wins also matches the 1996 team for the most consecutive since being affiliated with the NCAA in 1995.
 
The win Tuesday made it a sweep for Southern Arkansas, having claimed a 3-2 decision over OBU September 15 in Magnolia.
 
The Lady Muleriders had 54 kills to Ouachita Baptist's 39.
 
Junior setter Klaire Blasco Vine (Downey, Calif.) tossed up 44 assists in the match, junior libero Lauren Woods (Kennedale, Texas) had 19 digs, and senior middle hitter Monica Cox (Channelview, Texas) had four blocks at the net.
 
SAU takes a break from conference action this weekend and travels to Bolivar, Mo., where they will compete in the Southwest Baptist Crossover.  They face Lindenwood (Mo.) Friday at 9:30 a.m., before taking on Fort Hays State (Kan.) at 4:30 p.m.  Saturday, they tangle with host Southwest Baptist at 11 a.m., before closing out play at 1:30 p.m. against Missouri Southern State.