MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball is coming off its first 2-0 week in conference since 2015 and looks to keep momentum as they head to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to face-off with Henderson State at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Thursday night matchup inside the W.T. Watson Center against Ouachita Baptist at 6:00 p.m. With Southern Arkansas receiving more attention from conference opponents, Head Coach Alli O'Banion prepares her crew for the upcoming tests of endurance.
 
The Muleriders earned their first positive record in conference play last week after they defeated Arkansas Tech in Magnolia 3-1 and traveled to Monticello, Arkansas to defeat the Blossoms 3-1. Stat leaders from the week reside in Jada Hudson and Kayte Delong knocking down 18 kills each. Isla Olivas recorded an attack percentage of .538 in the contests with 17 kills. Morgan Schuster set up 56 assists over the eight sets. Alessia Sonzini held the backline down with 29 digs over the week as Hudson tallied 27 of her own.
 
Southern Arkansas ranks first in the Great American Conference in total attacks and service aces with 2,021 attacks (11^th nationally) and 99 aces (36^th nationally). The Muleriders place fourth in assists with 605 (32^nd nationally). SAU is also ranked fourth in total digs and kills with 863 digs (23^rd nationally) and 685 kills (26^th nationally).
 
HENDERSON STATE (10-5 | 2-1 GAC)
The Reddies are coming off a 1-1 week with a 1-3 loss vs Harding and a 3-1 victory over the Golden Suns in Russellville, Arkansas.
 
Last fall, Southern Arkansas met the Reddies inside the W.T. Watson Center where the Muleriders defeated Henderson State 3-1 and for the first time in the last 12 matchups prior. When SAU traveled to Clark County to face HSU, the Reddies split the matches by giving Southern Arkansas a four-set loss.
 
Henderson State has been running the conference in defense so far as they rank first in opposing hitting percentage in the GAC allowing .122 (16^th nationally). The Reddies are first in the GAC in total blocks with 108 (21^st nationally). Henderson State ranks second in the league in team digs with 943 (9^th nationally).
 
Leading the Reddie offensive attack is Christiane Uzoh with 145 (8^th GAC). Holding down the net for HSU is Larkin Luke (49 blocks | 2^nd GAC | 50^th nationally). Orchestrating the Henderson State offense is Madison Hatt with 281 assists (7^th GAC).
 
OUACHITA BAPTIST (6-9 | 1-2 GAC)
OUA is coming off a four-set road loss to Harding that followed a three-game win streak for group.
 
The Tigers have won the last three matches over the Muleriders with the last SAU win being on September 30, 2021 when Southern Arkansas won a five-set riot inside the W.T. Watson Center. Prior to that matchup, Ouachita Baptist had won ten straight over the Muleriders.
 
Ouachita Baptist has recorded 95 service aces (2^nd GAC | 43^rd nationally) on the campaign, just four behind the Muleriders. The team has tallied 647 kills thus far, which is ranked sixth in the league (38^th nationally). The Tigers have set up 572 assists to be ranked sixth in the conference and 50^th in the nation.
 
The Tigers' Courtney Hanson is ranked second in the conference in total assists with 487 (17^th nationally) with Emily Adams ranked fourth in the league for hitting percentage with .314. Hanson has the seventh most service aces in the GAC with 18, while her teammates Avery Jauz (17 aces) and Adams (16 aces) rank eighth and ninth. Jauz is also leading her team in digs with 189 (7^th GAC).
 
As stated previously, Southern Arkansas will hop back on the saddle with a road trip to Arkadelphia for the face-off with the Henderson State Reddies Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday, the Muleriders will head back inside the chaotic W.T. Watson Center to take on the Ouachita Baptist Tigers at 6:00 p.m. For more information on these events, check out www.MuleriderAthletics.com.