MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After a split week, the Muleriders look to cushion their seeding for their first Great American Conference Tournament berth since Alli O'Banion played for the blue and gold in 2015. Beginning the final regular season week, Southern Arkansas must journey to Searcy, Arkansas for its rematch with the Harding Bisons inside the Rhodes-Reaves Field House at 6 p.m. Following the Monday night festivities, the Muleriders head back home one last time for 2023 as they prepare for Senior Night inside the W.T. Watson Center against the Henderson State Reddies at 6 p.m.
 
Harding sits atop the Great American Conference standings tied with Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Baptist at 11-3 in the league. Southern Arkansas dropped this campaign's conference opener to the Bisons and has yet to defeat HU since 2015 when SAU overcame Harding all three contests that season (Home: 3-0 | Away: 3-2 | GAC Tournament 3-2). Before then, the Bisons recorded the series' longest active winning streak of 22 consecutive victories dating back to 2003.
 
On Thursday, the Muleriders look towards honoring senior/career assists leader Morgan Schuster to one last ride in the W.T. Watson Center as SAU matches up against Henderson State. The Reddies were victors in Arkadelphia earlier this season, but last time HSU ventured into Columbia County the 'Riders snapped Henderson State's 12 game-winning streak over SAU dating back to 2016.
 
WHO TO LOOK FOR
Continuing the charge for the Mulerider offense is Kayte Delong as she has accounted for 228 kills thus far with a team-leading attack percentage of .283. Morgan Schuster continues her orchestration with 550 assists this season and ranking seventh in the conference. Schuster ranks fourth in the GAC for service aces as she has tallied 37 in the campaign. Alessia Sonzini sits just ten away from 300 digs on the season as she leads the Muleriders and ranks 18^th in the league for total digs. Lauryn Moultrie stays on top of things at the net as she sits at second in the conference for blocks with 93 thus far (65^th nationally).
 
Harding (16-10 | 11-3 GAC)

• Since re-entering Natural State competition, Harding has gone 2-1 after they swept Henderson State, were swept by Ouachita Baptist, and defeated Arkansas Tech in four sets.
• The Bisons are the second-best team in team service aces (164), attacks/set (37.43), aces/set (1.73), assists/set (11.74), and digs/set (17.57). HU ranks third in kills/set (12.6) and opposing hitting percentage (.149). Harding is fourth in the league for team digs (1,669).
• Emma Winiger currently ranks third in the GAC for digs with 444 (44^th nationally). She is also second din the conference in digs/set with 4.67 (55^th nationally). Olivia Wiedower is the fifth-best in assists for the league with 618. Skyler McKinnon ranks seventh in the GAC in kills with 278 thus far.

Henderson State (18-9 | 9-5 GAC)

• Since re-entering Natural State competition, Henderson State has gone 2-1 after being swept by Harding, defeating Arkansas Tech in five sets, and sweeping Arkansas-Monticello.
• The Reddies ranks first in opposing hitting percentage by just allowing .128 (15^th nationally). HSU sits at second in the league for team digs (1,751 | 17^th nationally) and blocks/set (2.18 | 47^th nationally). Henderson State is third in the GAC for team total blocks (213.5 | 31^st nationally).
• Trinity Sharp sits at fifth in the league for total digs with 425 (64^th nationally) while also being fourth in digs/set with 4.62 (62^nd nationally). Larkin Luke rests at fifth in the conference for total blocks with 86 and fifth in hitting percentage with .306.

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