MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball is back on the road and is looking to turn the tables around as they have found themselves in a bit of a slump these last few games. The Blue and Gold take to the Sooner State for the final time this season where they will meet the East Central Tigers on Thursday at 6:00 PM and Southeastern Oklahoma on Friday at 4:00 PM.
 
Southern Arkansas has yet to defeat an Oklahoma school, but looks to change the script starting on Thursday against the Tigers who have been off and on the past five matches.
 
Even during the drought, the Muleriders continue to be one of the best blocking teams in the Great American Conference as they house the 3^rd-best blocks per set average (2.12) as well as rank 9^th in the league for total blocks with fewer games played than most squads in the GAC. The group continues to put the pressure on teams with their consistent attacking, averaging 38.48 per set (4^th GAC | 25^th nationally). The group's defense has kept opposing offenses from scoring at will as they have allowed just a 0.179 attack percentage (6^th GAC).
 
She continues to lead the conference and the region with her digs per set, Sadie Kabisch averages 6.21 digs per and just 0.70 behind the nation's leader.
 
East Central (12-9 | 6-3 GAC)
Last time out between these two squads, Mulerider Volleyball claimed victory in Magnolia in a Hall of Fame like game that finished in five sets with Southern Arkansas besting the Tigers 15-10 in the final set that earned the Blue and Gold its first ten-win season since 2015.
 
In its last four appearances, East Central has gone 2-2 as the Tigers have won, then lost, then won, then lost. Those games consisted of Arkansas Tech (W, 3-0), Harding (L, 0-3), at Henderson State (W, 3-1), and at Ouachita Baptist (L, 0-3).
 
The Tigers rank near the middle of the league for most statistical categories with their team attacks per set sticking out being ranked fifth and averaging 37.99 aps. ECU is 7^th in many of its stats such as aces per set (1.44), blocks per set (1.81), kills per set (12.25), team digs (1,246), team service aces (108), team attacks (2,849), and team blocks (136.0).
 
Ranking second in the GAC for aces per set and total service aces is Julia Kabala who averages 0.43 aces per set and has recorded a total of 32 this season. Another player for the Tigers ranked second in the league is Odalys Gonzalez who is 29^th in the nation for her attacks per set (10.75).
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State (8-11 | 4-5 GAC)
Last time out for these two programs, the Savage Storm claimed victory over SAU while inside the W.T. Watson Center in a four-set match. Southeastern's D'Nari Mills proved to be a problem for Southern Arkansas' defense then as she recorded 30 kills against the Muleriders on her 61 attacks.
 
In their last four outings, the Savage Storm has, must like their rivals, split their matches with Natural State competition as they defeated Harding in three sets and overcome Arkansas Tech in five. SE fell by the hands of Clark County both (Henderson State & Ouachita Baptist) in four sets.
 
The Savage Storm has been producing well in the digs department as SE is currently third in the league for digs per set, averaging 17.91 per and ranking 22^nd in the nation. Southeastern's team digs also spot the Storm at 22^nd nationally as they have produced a total of 1,361 (6^th GAC). The remainder of their statistical categories lie near the middle of the pack of the conference, but also sticking out is the team's hitting percentage at .204, which ranks 4^th in the GAC.
 
The returning Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Year looks for another career game against the Muleriders, as she is nearly continuing where she left off last season being first in the league for attacks (880 | 8^th nationally), first in attacks per set (11.58 | 11^th nationally), second in points per set (4.09), third in kills per set (3.78), and third in total kills (287 | 19^th nationally).