ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Tuesday night in South Central Arkansas marked history for the Harrell (O'Banion) era in Magnolia as the third-year head coach alongside second-year assistant coach Sarah Ford, claimed victory over the Ouachita Baptist Tigers in Arkadelphia, Arkansas for the first time in nine years (2015). Much like that 2015 match, Southern Arkansas beat the Tigers 3-1 in which SAU won the first two sets with the first set going extra. After a dropped third set, Southern Arkansas wrapped up the contest in the fourth 25-20.
In this season's competition in Clark County, the Muleriders had a very similar turnout as they won set one in extras, then the second, dropped the third, then finished off the Tigers in the fourth.
OUA's downfall came through the errors as the troupe accounted for 27 attack errors to the SAU 21, 10 service errors to the SAU seven, and eight reception errors to the SAU seven.
Even with the errors on the Tigers' part, the group recorded 193 attacks to the 179 for Southern Arkansas.
The lead scorer for Southern Arkansas was the senior from Overland Park, Kansas, Kayte Delong. The senior was on the offensive all night long as she recorded 18 kills on 42 attacks with just three errors and an attack percentage of .357. In total, she scored 19.5 points thanks to a block and a half.
Once again leading the group in blocks was Isla Olivas as the fellow senior from Fort Worth, Texas put back three total with one solo and four assists.
Newcomer Sadie Kabisch kept the Muleriders in on many rallies as the junior transfer accounted for 40 digs to keep the rallies going for the SAU offense.
The non-traditional setter, Ava Tanner, looked as if the transition to the position was seamless due to the fact that she recorded her second-best assisting match in her career with 22 assists.
No one team blew the other out the water in a set as the Muleriders' five-point set win in the second was the largest set win for the match.
Each group went blow for blow each set even with the lop-sided look of the set wins.
Southern Arkansas looked as if they were going to secure the sweep as the Muleriders held a 20-18 lead prior to Ouachita Baptist winning their one set with a 7-2 run for the Tigers' 25-22 win.
Despite the effort from OUA, the Muleriders snuffed out the comeback and finalized the victory on Carlin Whaley's sixth kill of the night.
Southern Arkansas has now advanced their win streak to six in a row, the most since winning nine in a row in 2012, and will carry said streak into the W.T. Watson Center for the team's home opener on Saturday at 11:00 AM versus Christian Brothers on Family Day.
