WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Senior Shelby Lauterbach recorded a career-high 20 kills attacking at a clip of .325 and Southern Arkansas received a pair of double-doubles from junior Serena LeDuff and senior Taylor Reaume, but the Lady Muleriders were unable to over a late-match surge from Southwestern Oklahoma as the Bulldogs topped SAU in five sets (18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 6-15) on Friday evening inside the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
The Lady Muleriders (10-9, 3-3 GAC), as a team, were held to an attack percentage of .176, while the Bulldogs attacked at a clip of .226.
Southern Arkansas continued to see the offense develop through Reaume as she logged a game-high 49 assists, while adding 11 digs. LeDuff's 19 kills were coupled with 12 digs as she recorded her fourth double-double of the year.
After splitting the first two sets, Southern Arkansas overcame a series of five-point deficits as they took a 21-20 lead after a kill from sophomore Alli O'Banion. The 24th point would come via service ace by junior Gillian Newman, before O'Banion gave the Lady Muleriders the match lead with a kill that ended the third set.
In the fourth set, Lauterbach tied the back and forth match at 24, but Southwestern Oklahoma would record the final two points to force the pivotal fifth set. The Lady Muleriders pulled to within 6-5 in the final frame, but a 9-1 run by the Bulldogs finished the match.
Defensively, junior Hannah Rice registered 24 digs, while classmate Paige Mays collected 13 digs. Newman recorded three block assists.
Southern Arkansas returns to the court in the morning for an 11 a.m. first-serve with Northwestern Oklahoma in Alva.
