MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas Volleyball returns to action on Thursday and Friday at the two-day Dallas Baptist Tri-Match, beginning first with #17 Texas A&M-Commerce at 5 p.m. on Thursday evening inside the Burg Center. The second half of the Tri-Match will be played on Friday with SAU matching up with host Dallas Baptist at 2 p.m.
 
The Muleriders (3-6, 0-1 GAC) are looking to get back to their winning ways after dropping their last five matches following a 3-1 start; the program's best four-game start to a season since 2011.
 
"Last weekend (South Central Classic) was an important weekend for us to grow and learn how to compete against tough teams. The last 4 games we have played have been against some of the best volleyball teams we will see all year," noted SAU Volleyball Head Coach Britney Davis. The third-year coach added, "I said it from the beginning these girls are going to compete and get better every week. Even if our current record from the past week doesn't reflect it, we are getting better daily and leaders are speaking up and taking their natural leadership role."

Despite the difficult stretch, Southern Arkansas has received solid performances from several young players. Freshman middle Abby Bermudez is leading the team in hitting percentage at .256 (49-18-121) and has played all 34 sets for the Muleriders this season.

Classmate defensive specialist Camryn Bihary currently ranks seventh in the Great American Conference in digs per set at 4.24, while her 144 digs are tied for the second-most in the league. Additionally, Bihary ranks ninth in service aces per set at 0.38, while sophomore middle Lauren Smith ranks sixth in the league in blocks per set at 0.91. Her 29 block assists are tied for the GAC-lead with Ouachita's Adrianna Nolly. The Muleriders are currently fifth in the GAC as a team in blocks per set with an average of 1.68. The team's 94 block assists are tied for the league-lead with Arkansas Tech.

Five players have recorded 40 or more kills for SAU in nine matches this season. Freshmen Fabiola Rivera and Lexie Kruse have combined to assist on 302 Mulerider points, with Rivera's 175 assists tops in the two-setter formation.  
#17 TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
W/L: 6-2 (0-0 Lone Star)
Schedule | Season Statistics
 
The Lions enter having won three of their past four matches. TAMUC will be the second nationally-ranked opponent that Southern Arkansas will face this season after matching up with #18 Central Oklahoma last weekend. Texas A&M-Commerce dropped a five-set match to the GAC's Harding in its season opener, while taking care of league foe Oklahoma Baptist in straight sets. Most impressive is that the Lions have defeated four AVCA DII Top 25 teams, including #2 Concordia St. Paul, #3 Lewis, and #10 Regis.
 
The Lions rank seventh nationally in team assists with 428 and ninth in the country in team kills with 453. TAMUC also holds Top 30 marks among Division II in team total blocks (70.0 | 17^th), assists per set (12.97 | 20^th) and kills per set (13.73 | 26^th). Celeste Vela has recorded a triple double for the Lions this season, while Shelley Chapron is hitting .404; the 29^th-best clip in Division II.
 
DALLAS BAPTIST
W/L: 4-4 (0-0 Heartland)
Schedule | Season Statistics
 
The Patriots have played a trio of common opponents in the early going of their season. DBU dropped its season-opener to Washburn in straight sets, while defeating Union and Mississippi College in match sweeps at the Reddie-Tiger Challenge. Southern Arkansas fared just about the same with wins over both Union (3-0) and Mississippi College (3-1) and a straight-sets loss to Washburn last weekend. Additionally, the Patriots dropped matches to Great American Conference foes Ouachita (2-3) and Henderson State (1-3).
 
Dallas Baptist is currently hitting .203 as a team and averages 12.14 kills per set. The Patriots dig over 15.5 attacks per set, while holding a pair of Top-40 rankings in blocking. DBU ranks 34^th in the country in team total blocks with 34 and 39^th in the country in blocks per set at an average of 2.14. Katie Nicholson is the top attack stuffer with 30 blocks this season at 1.11 per set.
 
"The two opponents this weekend present another big challenge for us and we are excited for the opportunity to continue to improve while competing against two high level teams. It is only going to make us stronger," stated Davis.