RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Southern Arkansas went into Pope County looking to sweep the Golden Suns this season for the first time since 2003, while at the same time defeating ATU in Tucker Coliseum for the first time since 2004. Arkansas Tech had different plans as they handed the Muleriders their 11th loss of the season, as well as their fifth loss in conference. The Golden Suns defeated Southern Arkansas in a five-set match (25-18, 25-14, 19-25, 21-25, 19-21). 

TOP PERFORMERS

Landry Rogers led the offense in kills tonight as she accounted for 18 kills, which is her new season-high. Lauryn Moultrie rattled off 14 kills off of just 21 attacks for a game-leading attack percentage of .619. Morgan Schuster, once again, led the Muleriders in assists after she recorded 39 assists (tied season-high) along with ten digs for her seventh double-double of the campaign. Along with Schuster, four other players tallied 10+ digs in Brinklee Dauenhauer (18), Mary Insalaco (16), Alessia Sonzini (15), and Alexa Heard (11). 

FIRST and SECOND SET

The first couple of sets looked as if the Muleriders were at home with how they dominated the Golden Suns within Tucker Coliseum. SAU's lead was as large as seven points in the set, but started out fairly close between the two squads. Southern Arkansas was granted the large lead thanks to a couple of runs going for four and five points. With the separation, SAU extended its lead over ATU to a 19-12 set one that guided the Muleriders to a 25-18 set one win. In the second set Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech were as close as 3-3, but would be followed by a 12-2 Mulerider run to go up by ten points. The Golden Suns closed the gap to as small as seven points, but were snuffed out by SAU with a 25-14 set two victory. 

THIRD and FOURTH SET

In the fourth set, Arkansas Tech shifted into a new gear. Nearly the entirety of the third set leaned Tech's favor. SAU's largest lead was 3-1, but was countered by a 0-6 run from the Suns to give Arkansas Tech the lead for the remainder of the set for a 19-25 set three win. Keeping your cool in Tucker Coliseum has proven to be quite the test for any opponent. The fourth set looked as if the Muleriders were going to secure the match as they had a 15-8 lead over the Golden Suns, but witnessed retaliation from ATU as they would pull off a 3-10 run to tie the set at 18-18. Arkansas Tech quickly took control and pushed the match to a fifth set after a final 3-7 run to take set three 21-25. 

FIFTH SET

Typically in the fifth set, the first team to score 15 points while being up two or more wins the match. If neither team leads by multiple scores at 15, then you have a very similar set five like these two groups did. If you were to witness the set, you would have believed we were going to 25, but Arkansas Tech saw to stop the madness by winning the absolute shootout inside Tucker Coliseum with a 19-21 set five victory. 

UP NEXT

The Muleriders are looking to bounce back as they head back home to match up against the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Halloween night inside the W.T. Watson Center at 6:00 p.m. For more Mulerider Volleyball or other athletic information, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com or look us up @muleridersports on X, Facebook, and Instagram.