MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball is back in action as the Great American Conference begins its transition into the out-of-state play with Southern Arkansas taking it's first trip to the Sooner State for conference play. SAU is set for a weekend in West Oklahoma in which the Muleriders will face the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs on Thursday night. Southern Arkansas will then transfer to the northern part of West Oklahoma for an evening battle with Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday.
 
The Blue and Gold currently sit at 9-4 overall with a 3-2 record in the GAC that ties them at third in the league with teams such as Northwestern Oklahoma State and Arkansas Tech. The Muleriders on the road in conference play have not been the most proficient as SAU is 0-2 on the road in the GAC, with both coming by sweeps (ATU, HU). The Muleriders look to bounce back heading into Thursday-Friday competition with their trip to the Sooner State.
 
Mulerider Volleyball currently ranks in the top four of the league in five statistical categories such as blocks per set (2.36 | 1st), hitting percentage (.204 | 4^th), winning percentage (.692 | 2^nd), opposing hitting percentage (.162 | 3^rd), and team attacks per set (37.31 | 4^th).
 
Third in the nation and first in the GAC for digs per set is Sadie Kabisch averaging 6.07 digs per set. Kabisch is ranked seventh in the league for her total digs of 267. Isla Olivas continues to stay close to the top of the league in blocks per set with her average of 1.14 being just 0.01 less the conference leader, Harding's Ashley Lamkin.
 
Southwestern Oklahoma State | 8-6 (4-1)
The Bulldogs are winners of five of their last six matches as SWOSU has defeated GAC preseason favorite Oklahoma Baptist (3-2), Northwestern Oklahoma State (3-2), and Southeastern Oklahoma (3-1). The Pioneer Event Center continues to be a very dangerous place to play for visitors as the Bulldogs are 2-0 at home so far on their home court. In 2023, Southern Arkansas recorded its first win against Southwestern Oklahoma State since 2014 as the Muleriders had finally reached three set wins against the Bulldogs in a five-set thriller inside the W.T. Watson Center.
 
SWOSU ranks among the top half of the league in many statistical categories. Most notably team aces and aces per set. The Bulldogs are currently second in both categories, averaging 1.88 aces per set and have recorded 107 service aces. Other impressive stats for SWOSU include assists per set (11.67 | 3^rd), hitting percentage (.214 | 3^rd), and kills per set (12.47 | 4^th).
 
Leading the conference in kills per set (3.82), points per set (4.44), and total kills (218) is the Bulldogs' own Lacy Mott as the senior from Waxahachie, Texas ranks in the top-45 of the country in all three categories. Mott is also the team leader for aces per set (0.37 | 7^th GAC), attacks per set (9.54 | 8^th GAC), and total attacks (544 | 7^th).
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State | 9-7 (3-2)
Prior to their two most recent matches, the Rangers were winners of six-straight, that included five-consecutive sweeps. Two of which came against league foes Eat Central and Southern Nazarene. Currently, NWOSU are losers of two straight against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Baptist. Before they match it up with the Muleriders, the Rangers are set for their match with Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday night. Last season's battle between SAU and NWOSU ended being the first time in five matches that the Muleriders overcame the Rangers after a 3-1 victory in front of a pinked-out crowd inside the W.T. Watson Center.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma has proved to be a well-respected opponent as they rank in the top-five of the conference in four different statistical categories such as aces per set (1.56 | 5^th), blocks per set (2.18 | 3^rd), opposing hitting percentage (.147 | 2^nd), and total blocks (124.5 | 3^rd).
 
Players to look out for the Rangers include Ece Ozdemir and Erika Asencio Soriano. Ozdemir, as of right now, is the GAC leader in aces per set with her average of 0.52. The redshirt junior is also the team's leader for total service aces with her 23 (4^th GAC). Second to her on the team in that category is Brianda Diaz with 22 (5^th GAC). Soriano currently leads her squad in categories such as attacks per set (9.70 | 6^th), kills per set (3.17 | 7^th GAC), points per set (3.40 | 9^th GAC), total attacks (524 | 8^th GAC), and total kills (171 | 12^th GAC). One more notable player for NWOSU is Mariela Jimenez who is second in the league for total blocks with 54.