MONTICELLO, Ark. - Mulerider Volleyball made the journey to Drew County for the 21st night of September conference matchup against the Cotton Blossoms. Southern Arkansas prevailed in the contest three sets to one (25-16, 26-28, 25-18, 25-13) to advance its record above .500 to 8-7 (2-1 GAC). With the victory, the Muleriders have recorded their first positive record in conference play since 2015. 

Southern Arkansas took its first on-the-road conference matchup with confidence and momentum after defeating the Golden Suns Tuesday evening. After winning the first set with relative ease, SAU saw retaliation from Arkansas-Monticello (0-14, 0-3 GAC) in the second set that tied the match at one apiece. Head coach Alli O'Banion regrouped her team after the set and came back out with a head full of steam and won the final two sets. 

FIRST SET
Arkansas-Monticello jumped out to an early 7-10 lead in set one that would then be followed by a Mulerider 6-0 run led by Peach State native Lauryn Moultrie's serve. The Italy native, Alessia Sonzini's serve took a major role in extending her squads lead to a seven-point advantage thanks to a 3-0 run that followed by a UAM service error. After extending its lead to 20-13, Southern Arkansas would cruise to an eight point set one victory over the Cotton Blossoms. 

SECOND SET
SAU kept the momentum rolling into set two with an early 5-0 lead that extended to a 15-7 advantage for the Muleriders. Arkansas-Monticello was not out yet though as they strung together an 8-0 series that tied the set. At 22-20, the Cotton Blossoms put up a 4-0 run to take the lead at 22-24. Southern Arkansas would tie the set back up at 24, but would be overcome by UAM with a final 4-2 run to win the set 26-28.

THIRD SET
The Muleriders went back to collect themselves following the set loss, and came out firing on all cylinders in the third set. The rejuvenated SAU squad started hot once again with a quick 7-2 run. The Blossoms would narrow the deficit down to 10-9, but would be overwhelmed by a three-point run off of Morgan Schuster's serve to separate the rivals in the set. The Muleriders would go cruising to a 25-19 third-set victory. 

FOURTH SET
In the fourth set, there was never a doubt who was coming away with the win. Southern Arkansas jumped out to a 15-5 lead over the Blossoms quickly. With every point made by Arkansas-Monticello, O'Banion's crew scored right back almost automatically. To finish the match Isla Olivas knocked down a kill that was then followed by a back-to-back service aces by Macie Shaver.

STATISTIC LEADERS
Junior Jada Hudson led the offense in kills in the evening with 11. Landry Rogers knocked down ten of her own. Moultrie (.389) and Olivas (.500) recorded nine of their own kills with the two highest attack percentages on the team. Schuster added to her career total with a season-high 39 assists on the night. Shaver recorded ten assists inside Steelman Field House along with a game-leading four service aces. 

Moultrie recorded two solo blocks with Schuster and Olivas each recording one of their own. Hudson held the backline down as she led the game with 22 digs and Sonzini recorded 17 of her own. 

NEXT MATCHUPS
Southern Arkansas has won its fifth game in the last six matchups and now its second game in a row. The Muleriders get set to take on Henderson State on the road Tuesday at p.m. (Sept. 26) and Ouachita Baptist inside the W.T. Watson Center Thursday at 6 p.m. (Sept. 28). For more information on these and other matchups, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com.