MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Alli O'Banion begins year two as head coach of her alma mater Southern Arkansas and up first for the Muleriders in 2023 is a four-game stint at the Missouri Southern Invite in Joplin, Missouri. Picked tenth in the Great American Conference preseason coaches poll, O'Banion's Muleriders have their sights set on Hot Springs as one of eight teams vying for the conference tournament title in November. But first, this weekend which offers up Cameron (9/1; 9 AM), Southwest Baptist (9/1; 1 PM), Newman (9/2; 9 AM) and host Missouri Southern (9/2; 1 PM) on the slate in the opening weekend.

The Muleriders are coming off of a 6-21 season in O'Banion's first year as head coach, but optimism abounds for a program that returns its top setter of all-time in Morgan Schuster as well as four other players that impacted last fall.

Schuster, the spark to the flame that is the Muleriders' offense, recorded 680 assists (6^th in GAC), 193 total attacks, 179 digs, 47 kills, 30.5 total blocks, and 18 aces in 2022. The senior holds the program record for assists (2,804) and is looking to become the only Mulerider ever to reach 3,000 career assists. Butler CC transfer Macie Shaver will aid Schuster in assisting the SAU attack.

Southern Arkansas has plenty of new faces around the program, but has no lack of experience as they return four players who competed in 80+ sets last fall in Schuster (95) and juniors Lauryn Moultrie (93), Landry Rogers (91), and Isla Olivas (84). Southern Arkansas is also returning four players that delivered 80+ kills in Rogers (286), Moultrie (146), Olivas (132), and junior Kayte Delong (81). Rogers' 3.14 kills per set ranked seventh in the GAC last fall.

Rogers finished with the third-most digs last season (200) and is the top returner in that category following two backrow departures in the offseason. Her 19 service aces ranked second on the team with Schuster following with 18. Four of the Muleriders' top five front line defenders return in Olivas who led the team in blocks (60.0). Moultrie (58.0) and Schuster (35.0) added the second and third-most blocks, respectively, while Carlin Whaley's 19.0 total blocks ranked fifth as SAU totaled 154.0 in 27 matches.

Ava Tanner returns for the Muleriders and could impact all around for SAU this season after earning quality reps along the back row. Middle Alli Cooper impressed during August practice and will look to build upon that effort in the early stages of the season. Kendall Sadler and Alexa Heard both return and will provide much needed depth at the second level. Joining Shaver as newcomers are true freshmen Brinklee Dauenhauer (Springtown, Texas) and Alyssa Magness (Frisco, Texas) and impactful transfers Francesca Giovane (Odessa College), Jada Hudson (North Central Texas College), Mary Insalaco (Champion Christian), Alessia Sonzini (Navarro College), and Samantha Ward (Coastal Bend College).

Cameron

(5-26 in 2022; 17^th in 2023 LSC Preseason Poll)

*11^th matchup all-time between the two programs; Aggies hold 7-3 advantage; First meeting since 2018 when SAU won in five sets in Magnolia

*Winless in a tough Lone Star Conference a season ago

*Nathan Martell takes over as head coach after a successful stint at Colorado-St. Pueblo as an assistant

*Two of top three attackers from a season ago in Caitlyn Henderson and Paris Patterson return

*Of the four teams that SAU will play, Cameron notched the most service aces last fall with 174.

Southwest Baptist

(14-14 in 2022; 12^th in 2023 GLVC Preseason Poll)

*Eighth meeting all-time between the two programs; SBU has won the last three including a 3-0 victory last season

*Won four matches in GLVC play last fall, but went 10-6 in non-conference action

*Top attackers Loran Pritchett (2022 GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES) and Ella Rademaker return after playing all 28 matches and combining for 475 kills in 2022

*Bailey Lasater is back after recording a team-high 492 assists. Pritchett added 248. Aleena Peterson returns after leading the team in digs with 445.

*SBU registered 167 service aces last fall.

Newman

(8-22 in 2022; 11^th in 2023 MIAA Preseason Poll)

*Third-meeting all-time between the programs with each team garnering a win. Muleriders won 3-2 in Hays, Kansas in most recent matchup in 2019

*Won three of its 20 matches in MIAA action last season

*All-MIAA performer Riley Daugherty exits the program after a team-high kills output last fall, but All-MIAA HM Ozioma Ajekwu returns after 262 kills. Hannah Brisco and Natalie Meyer combined for 239 kills.

*All-MIAA HM Mckinzie Weaver crossed the 1K mark in assists with 1,114 last fall and she is the second leading returner in digs with 336.

Missouri Southern

(13-17 in 2022; 8^th in 2023 MIAA Preseason Poll)

*Sixth meeting all-time between the programs; MSSU leads 3-2, but Muleriders have won last two matches: sweeps in Arkadelphia (2016) and Bolivar, Mo. (2012)

*Claimed eight victories in a tough MIAA in 2022.

*Went 9-5 at home last season after going just 1-10 in such matches in 2021

*All-MIAA second teamers Fernanda Canedo and Amelia Neels combined for 671 kills led by Canedo's team-high 387. Both are back for the Lions as is Jaryn Benning who delivered 229 kills.

*MSSU is tasked with replacing top setter Sophie Mader who led with 1,105 helpers. Hannah Allick returns after recording 112 assists.

*MSSU recorded 165 service aces last fall.