DURANT, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas Lady Mulerider Volleyball team concluded play at the South Central Classic on Saturday afternoon after splitting the day's action which saw the program knock off Texas A&M International in four sets, before suffering a straight-sets loss to AVCA #21 Central Missouri.
 
In Saturday's opener, SAU relied heavily on its defense as the Lady Muleriders (2-4) collected a season-high 72 digs as a team with three players recording ten or more led by sophomore defensive specialist Whitney Brown's career-high 18 digs. Freshman right side hitter Morgan Gross also logged a career-high in digs with 15 in the win. Offensively, freshmen front liners Bailey Cagle (10-4-21) and Madi Pfeifer (10-1-18) each registered career-highs in kills with 10 apiece to lead the Southern Arkansas attack.
 
The Dustdevils came out swinging to start the 10 a.m. match as they took an eventful back and forth first set, 30-28, behind an attack percentage of .324 (17-5-37). However, Southern Arkansas would take control in set two as the Lady Muleriders surged to a 12-2 lead to begin the frame, before eventually taking the second set, 25-13.
 
In that second set, SAU banged out a swing clip of .320 (12-4-25) and forced TAMIU to an attack percentage of -.077; allowing the Dustdevils just four kills in 26 attempts.
 
Southern Arkansas would fall behind 9-2 in set three, before eventually rallying to take a 21-20 set lead. Moments later, Cagle gave SAU a 2-1 match lead after her match point serve was mishandled by the Dustdevils, giving the Lady Muleriders a 27-25 set three win.
 
Leading 20-19 in the fourth set, sophomore setter Alexa Bass would record back-to-back service aces to cushion a late Southern Arkansas lead, before the Dustdevils rallied to tie the set at 23 apiece. But a TAMIU attack error followed by a solo block from senior middle hitter Alli O'Banion would prove to be the difference as the Lady Muleriders picked up their first Division II win of the season.
 
Saturday's opening victory over Texas A&M International was the second time in as many seasons that the Lady Muleriders have beaten the Dustdevils after having picked up a season-opening three-set win over TAMIU at the South Central Classic last fall. The two programs will meet again in 2017, this time as part of the Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational on September 15 and 16 in Magnolia.
 
In the matchup with #21 Central Missouri (3-0), the Jennies' high-powered offense dominated from the outset as they hit a collective .475 as a team, while holding Southern Arkansas to just 20 kills at an attack clip of .125 over three sets.
 
Bass and fellow setter Savannah Pillow combined for 46 assists in two games on Saturday, while Brown added 13 more digs in the loss to UCM.
 
Southern Arkansas continues non-conference play on the road as they travel to Conway, Arkansas, to play Central Baptist College on Tuesday, September 5. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. Live links are available at www.muleriderathletics.com.