MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Non-conference competition is officially wrapped up as Head Volleyball Coach Alli Harrell and her Muleriders are back home for their Great American Conference home-opener versus the group they played last in the 2023 season, the Henderson State Reddies. The Muleriders will then hit the road for their first meeting with Arkansas Tech this season on Thursday in Russellville, Arkansas Southern Arkansas is currently riding the league's longest winning streak with seven victories in a row after having beaten Christian Brothers in their home-opening match 3-1.
 
While the Muleriders are tied for the fewest matches played in the GAC, SAU currently sits at the top of the standings with a 7-2 record and a 1-0 league record. Southern Arkansas' .778 win-loss percentage is the best within the conference.
 
SAU is first in the league for blocks per set as they average 2.48 per set and rank 25^th nationally in the category. The group is also third in the conference for opposing hitting percentage as they have allowed just .150 thus far.
 
The Muleriders have put the pressure on their opponents as they are ranked fourth in the GAC for attacks per set, averaging 36.30 per.
 
Leading the league in blocks per set is Isla Olivas. The senior out of Fort Worth, Texas averages 1.25 blocks per set and is 38^th in the nation with that statistic. Olivas is sixth in the conference for total blocks, in which she is 11 blocks behind conference leader Ashely Lamkin out of Harding with 51. The Bisons have already competed in three more matches than the Muleriders. Olivas is on pace to eventually lead the league in blocks by taking her average of 1.25 and multiplying that by nine (three sets per match | 11.25).
 
Another league-leader is junior transfer Sadie Kabsich. The Henrietta, Texas native is the current conference leader in digs per set as she is averaging 5.73 per and is currently ranked ninth nationally. She is 36^th nationally for total digs and is sixth in the GAC with 189 digs. She also is on pace to be the league leader with her averaged digs per set.
 
Henderson State | 8-5 (0-1 GAC)
The last time these two had met was in Hot Springs, Arkansas located inside the Bank OZK Arena. The Reddies finished the game having swept the Muleriders who were making their first appearance in the GAC Tournament since 2015. SAU and HSU had met just the week prior in Magnolia, where Southern Arkansas had defeated Henderson State for just the third time since 2015. All three of those wins against the Reddies came inside the W.T. Watson Center.
 
HSU currently sits in the top half of the conference in terms of statistics, but is 0-1 in the GAC after having been swept by the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech in Russellville (21-25, 16-25, 15-25). Henderson State then competed in the Pittsburg State Regional Challenge, in which they finished 1-2 after taking losses to Emporia State (1-3) and Washburn (0-3). The Reddies lone win came against Missouri S&T (3-1).
 
Leading the league in total digs is Kaylon Partain as she has recorded 253 over the Reddies' 13 matches and 46 sets. Partain is also second in the conference for digs per set with 5.50. She is behind Kabisch of SAU. Ranking second in the conference in total blocks is Larkin Luke with 43 (three more than Olivas). Luke is actually seventh for blocks per set as she sits behind her teammate Cassidi Campbell in third with 1.08 per set.
 
Arkansas Tech | 6-6 (1-0 GAC)
The last time these two programs met in their long series resulted in a classic for all-time as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns managed to take down Southern Arkansas after being down 2-0 to the Muleriders. ATU made a comeback of a lifetime against SAU as the Suns rattled off three straight set victories to pull off the then upset inside the infamous Tucker Coliseum in Russellville, Arkansas.
 
The Golden Suns have already accounted for a better season than the last as ATU has started the season 6-6, where as they finished 3-25 last fall. The Suns are to play Arkansas-Monticello Tuesday night in Monticello.
 
ATU is the league leader for service aces at the moment as they have totaled 80 aces thus far and ranked 40^th nationally in the statistic as they also average 1.82 per set (2^nd GAC). Tech is third in the GAC for total blocks with 89.5 (39^th nationally) and ranks fourth in assists per set (10.98), blocks per set (2.03), kills per set (12.25), and total kills (539).
 
Leading the way for the Suns in total kills is Savannah Meyer as the sophomore out of Lake St. Louis, Missouri has put down 150 kills and ranks 20^th in the country in the stat. Senior Jordan Clouse is tied for the league's second-best for total blocks as the native of Cave Creek, Arizona has put back 43 so far.
 
Tuesday night's contest between the Muleriders and the Reddies is to be used as an opportunity to recognize those struggling with kidney failure/disease and Mulerider Volleyball would like to spread awareness for the illness by asking all in attendance to wear the color green, the color used to spread knowledge about kidney health and the challenges faced by those with kidney diseases.