MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Mulerider Volleyball continues its final regular season stretch of the 2024 season in matchups against Arkansas-Monticello and Harding. The team is currently 11-11 overall, holding a 5-2 record on their home court while being 5-9 in the Great American Conference. The first serve in the meeting between the Muleriders and the Cotton Blossoms is set for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 12), followed by Senior Night at home against the Bisons at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 14).
 
Southern Arkansas is coming off a 3-1 win against Arkansas Tech at home last Thursday (Nov. 7), where the Muleriders dropped the first set 21-25 and then fought back to claim the next three sets 25-17, 27-25 and 25-15. Leading the game in kills was Carlin Whaley with 14 while Kayte Delong and Brinklee Dauenhauer recorded 9 each. Setter Macie Shaver assisted the kills with a total of 27 assists. Delong also proved strong up at the net as she tallied 6 blocks. Sadie Kabisch played a pivotal role in getting the team back smoothly into the rallies as she recorded 24 digs over the four sets. Samantha Ward served three service aces with Lauryn Moultrie and Ava Tanner scoring two each.
 
The Muleriders are ranked third in the GAC in both blocks per set with 2.08, and attacks per set at 38.96 (23rd in the nation), and 4th in the GAC in digs per set with 17.92 (22nd in the nation). Kabisch continues to lead the conference and is ranked second in the nation in digs per set with (6.38) while fifth in the conference in total digs with 485 (26th in the nation). Senior Isla Olivas has recorded 75 blocks so far this season and is ranked sixth in the conference in blocks per set with 0.96.
 
Arkansas-Monticello (4-20 overall | 0-14 GAC)
The last time the two teams met the Muleriders claimed a straight-set victory (25-23, 25-21, 25-12) over the Cotton Blossoms. The Cotton Blossoms'  last victory was against the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist in September and they are currently holding a losing streak of 17 matches.
 
UAM is ranked 10th in the conference in aces per set (1.35), digs per set (16.22), and attacks per set (36.22). Abrielle Jordan ranks fifth in the conference in blocks per set with 0.96 and ninth in total blocks with 80. Mia Smalls is ninth in the GAC with her 5.78 assists per set.
 
Leading the offense for the Cotton Blossoms is Natalie White as she has accounted for 147 kills this season. Smalls has played a key role in assisting the offense with her total of 503 assists while she also leads the team in service aces as she has recorded 26 so far this season. Jordan Wehr leads the Cotton Blossoms with her 273 total digs while Jordan leads the team with her 80 total blocks.
 
Harding (18-8 overall | 11-3 GAC)
When the Muleriders and the Bisons competed against each other in Searcy the Bisons won 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-17). Harding won their most recent match 3-1 against Henderson State's Reddies.
 
The Bisons are ranked first in the GAC with their assists per set of 13.15 (13 in the nation), kills per set of 14.19 (11 in the nation), assists with 1,262 (11 in the nation), and with their attacks per set of 40.71 (3rd in the nation). Olivia Wiedower leads the league in both assists per set of 10.75 (21 in the nation) and total assists of 1,032 (9 in the nation). Ashley Lamkin ranks first in the league for her blocks per set averaging 1.08 blocks per set, and second in the league in total blocks as she has recorded 93 so far this season.
 
Skyler McKinnon is leading the Bisons with 322 kills on 902 attacks, while Delaney Garner has recorded a total of 252 kills this season. Wiedower has assisted the offense a total of 1,032 times and leads the team in service aces as she has recorded 27 total aces this season. Tatum Fouche is earning her way closer to the 500 mark in total digs this season as she has collected 488 so far. Leading the team up at the net is Lamkin with her 93 blocks (26 BS | 67 BA).
 
The Muleriders are set to start their match against the Cotton Blossoms on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at 6:00 p.m. on the road, followed by Senior Day at home in Magnolia on Thursday (Nov. 14) at 6:00 p.m.