MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball has made their way back to the W.T. Watson Center as they are finally back to facing their Natural rivals as they have concluded play against programs from the Sooner State. Southern Arkansas continues seeking a bounce back victory after the past seven contests.
 
The Blue and Gold's return to the W.T. Watson Center will fashion many other colors, including orange and black as the Muleriders for the second-consecutive season will host a home match on Halloween night. Last season's thriller for SAU included a scary good performance by the Muleriders as they swept the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (25-14 | 25-16 | 25-10). The Blue and Gold will now be facing the team they began their conference clashes with this season, the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. Following the battle with the Tigers on Thursday night, the Muleriders will then travel to Arkadelphia for the final time this season to match with Henderson State on Monday evening.
 
The Muleriders are still in the top three of the conference for blocks per set as they are averaging 2.00 blocks per set and ranks third in the league. The group is also third for attacks per set in the Great American Conference, recording 38.94 per (20^th nationally). Finally, SAU is fourth in the GAC averaging 17.76 digs per set (24^th nationally).
 
First in the conference and second in the country is Sadie Kabisch for her digs per set as she has been averaging 6.42 digs per set. Kabisch's total digs of 411 is sixth in the conference and 22^nd nationally.
 
Ouachita Baptist (15-8 | 6-5 GAC)
The last time these two clashed was on OUA's own court. The Blue and Gold controlled the four-set match and exited Clark County with the 3-1 victory (26-24 | 25-20 | 22-25 | 25-22). The Muleriders were led by Kayte Delong's 18 kills on 42 attacks (3 errors) for a hitting percentage of .357. Isla Olivas recorded four blocking assists while also accounting for a solo.
 
Since dropping that contest at home against Alli Harrell's Muleriders, Ouachita Baptist has gone 9-6 as they went 4-2 over the Oklahoma stretch.
 
In the majority of statistical categories, the Tigers rank in the top half of the league with their hitting percentage, kills, and assists being the three stats standing out. Ouachita Baptist ranks first in the league for their team kills and hitting percentage as they have produced 1,210 kills (4^th nationally) on 3,319 attacks (13^th nationally | 5^th GAC), producing an attack percentage of .244 (30^th nationally). With those kills came assists, and the Tigers have recorded 1,089 assists (8^th nationally | 2^nd GAC).
 
Ouachita Baptist's Courtney Hanson has been a premier setter in the GAC this season as she is second in the league for total assists and tenth in nation in the same category. Hanson is also the conference's second-best server with 35 aces. The conference leader in attack percentage is Leah Gardner as the Tiger is recording a .356.
 
Henderson State (12-12 | 3-8 GAC)
The Muleriders and the Reddies met up in Magnolia earlier this season in which saw Southern Arkansas sweep their in-state foes for the first time since 2015 (25-22 | 25-21 | 26-24). Delong led the Blue and Gold in scoring again as well as leading the group in hitting percentage (.321). Three players recorded multiple solo blocks with Lauryn Moultrie leading that category with three for the match.
 
Since the Muleriders defeated Henderson State, the Reddies have gone 4-6 with a 1-5 record against the state of Oklahoma. Their one victory against the Sooner State came against Southeastern Oklahoma State in a four-set match at home.
 
Much like Southern Arkansas, HSU is one of the conference's top teams for blocking as they are second in the league for blocks per set and total blocks (2.24/set | 195.0; 21^st nationally). The team's digs may just be fifth in the GAC, but are at the same time 17^th nationally (1,526).
 
The Reddies have had many standouts this season with multiple athletes in the top three of the conference for statistical categories. Kaylon Partain is the league's leader in total digs as she has accounted for 486 thus far and ranks fourth in country for the stat. Partain is also second in the conference for digs per set (5.65 | 10^th nationally).