MAGNOLIA, Ark. – For the fourth time in as many Great American Conference matches, the Southern Arkansas Volleyball team took a league opponent to five sets, but fell just short as Southern Nazarene defeated the Lady Muleriders (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 13-15) on Saturday afternoon inside the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.
 
Junior outside hitter Serena LeDuff tabbed a season-high 26 kills and senior setter Taylor Reaume again delivered with a double-double (54 assists, 15 digs) as the Lady Muleriders attacked at a match-average of .224 including three sets at .250 or better.
 
The Lady Muleriders (11-12, 3-6 GAC) used several four and five point runs in the first set and LeDuff produced four kills on a late 5-1 run in the third set to take a 2-1 match lead. With Southern Nazarene leading 8-3 in the fourth set, SAU fought back to tie the set at 12, but an 8-2 Crimson Storm run forced a pivotal fifth set despite an ensuing 7-3 SAU run that fell short of taking the match.
 
A kill from senior middle hitter Emilie Aase and a service ace from junior defensive specialist Paige Mays brought the SNU lead down to 12-11 and LeDuff would add a pair of kills late, but the Crimson Storm (11-12, 7-2 GAC) would fight off the rally to take the match.
 
Senior Shelby Lauterbach continued to produce as she added 13 kills, while sophomore Alli O'Banion added 10.
 
Junior Hannah Rice collected 35 digs and three other Lady Muleriders recorded 10 or more digs as juniors Brittney Johnson and Paige Mays added 12 and 11 respectively. Junior Kaitlyn Reiner paced a front line with five block assists, while O'Banion and Aase each added three block assists each.
 
Southern Arkansas will return to the court on Friday, October 23, in Durant, Oklahoma, as they take on Southeastern Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. The Lady Muleriders will play in Ada, Oklahoma, the next day in a 2 p.m. matchup with East Central.