MAGNOLIA – The SAU Volleyball team opens their shortened, 10-game spring season tomorrow when they make the trip up to Arkadelphia to face Henderson State. 

The Muleriders will play the other five teams in the Eastern Division twice in a “home-and-home” matchup. The Muleriders will host Henderson State in the reverse match on March 2nd. 

Head Coach Lindsey Parks enters her second season at the helm of Mulerider Volleyball; they return seven players from a season ago and add seven new players to the program – six freshman and one junior college transfer. 

Morgan Schuster started all 27 contests a season ago, taking part in all 95 sets the Muleriders played. The Arlington, Texas native averaged 9.19 assists per set, fourth in the GAC. 

Morgan Gross also played in all 27 matches, recording 238 kills in the process. Bailey Kirk is the only returning defensive specialist for the Muleriders, playing in 25 matches in her freshman season. 

Along with Gross, who is a senior, senior Lauren Smith and junior Abby Bermudez are the only other returning upperclassmen. 

Gabby Thrower and Kenadee Poye combined for 112 kills in limited action in their freshmen campaigns. 

Newcomers to the Mulerider Volleyball program include Pratt CC transfer Olivia Hessman. She is joined by six freshman – Landry Rogers (outside hitter), Brianna Nipper (defensive specialist), Jordyn Dashiell (setter), Victoria White (outside hitter), Magnolia native Carlin Whaley (outside hitter) and Truli Bates (middle).

The Muleriders were picked sixth in the GAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Harding were picked atop of the Eastern Division, garnering 25 points and five first-place votes. Henderson State came in second with 21 points and a first-place vote; Arkansas Tech, Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas-Monticello then fill out the rest of the poll.

Games will take place every Tuesday. All games, apart from the season opener against Henderson State (which will start at 6:30 p.m.), will start at 6 p.m.