HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Junior outside hitter Serena LeDuff recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs and Southern Arkansas received a second consecutive 32-assist game from senior setter Taylor Reaume, but the Lady Muleriders (1-1) dropped the nightcap against tournament-host Alabama-Huntsville 3-1 (25-19, 13-25, 23-25, 22-25) on Friday evening inside Spragins Hall at the UAH Volleyball Classic.
 
Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 6-2 advantage in the opening set after falling behind 2-0 to start the contest. The largest lead of the set for SAU was 10 and came on a kill courtesy of senior Allie Cecil that gave SAU an 18-8 lead. Synonymous with the Lady Muleriders opening match of the season played earlier on Friday afternoon (a 3-0 victory over Stillman College), the offense developed through Reaume as  six different Lady Muleriders recorded a kill, while four produced service aces leading to a 25-19 victory.
 
Defensively in the first set, the Lady Muleriders suppressed a late 6-0 run by the Lady Chargers that brought UAH to within four after sophomore Alli O'Banion registered a block that would lead to a set-clinching kill from senior Shelby Lauterbach.
 
During the critical third set, SAU trailed by six as UAH (3-0) nursed a 17-11 lead. The Lady Muleriders battled back as a kill by O'Banion cut the lead to one at set-point for the Lady Chargers, before an SAU attack error gave UAH a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
For Alabama-Huntsville in the second and fourth sets, the Lady Chargers attacked Southern Arkansas at an average clip of 34.6% that included a combined 27 kills and in the process slowed down the Lady Muleriders balanced attack that shown throughout the first four sets of the season, all wins.
 
In the four sets, SAU collected 64 digs as four Lady Muleriders produced double figures led by junior defensive specialist Paige Mays' eleven, while a trio of players recorded ten digs.
 
The Lady Muleriders conclude play in the season-opening tournament with a pair of games tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. against Treveca Nazarene followed by a 3 p.m. contest with William Jewell College.
 
Fans can follow all of the action via live stats here: http://www.sidearmstats.com/uah/wvball/. Stay up-to-date with the latest Lady Mulerider Volleyball news by visiting Muleriderathletics.com.