MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After earning conference wins number one, two, and three, while also recording their fourth-straight win, Mulerider Volleyball (8-12 | 3-4 GAC) gets set for another road journey. The group will be making their first and only trip to Oklahoma this regular season, as the Blue and Gold prep for their Great American Conference (GAC) matches with the Oklahoma Baptist Bison (13-6 | 5-2 GAC) on Thursday (Oct. 16) in Shawnee, Oklahoma, at 6:00 PM, and the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm (6-13 | 1-6 GAC) on Friday (Oct. 17) in Bethany, Oklahoma, at 4:00 PM.  
 
A Look at SAU
The Muleriders come off defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State and East Central in the same season for the first time since Head Coach Alli Harrell (O'Banion), back in 2015. After losing to both groups in 2024, Southern Arkansas overcame the Savage Storm 3-2 and took care of the Tigers the day after with a 3-1 win. The group now looks to see if they keep this momentum going on the road with a pair of teams that have had the Muleriders' number since joining the GAC.
 
Not only did the Blue and Gold earn one player of the week honor with the GAC, but the unit was also responsible for two players of the week awards after shifting around the program's record books both offensively and defensively. Offensively, the league saw Brinklee Dauenhauer claim her first GAC Offensive Player of the Week, as the junior coed the honor with Arkansas Tech's Savannah Meyer. Defensively for the Muleriders, Sadie Kabsich was named the conference's outright Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
 
Following three straight matches with under 10 kills, Dauenhauer sought an awakening, and accomplished just that with 28 kills on Thursday evening inside the W.T. Watson Center, with the junior tying the program record for most kills in a single match, tying Brando Beeson's 20-year-old record. While she tied that record, she set a new program record for most attack attempts in a single match with 76, breaking Serena LeDuff's 10-year-old record. Dauenhauer solidified her lead on the team for kills and points, as the Springtown, Texas native has 195 kills and 220.5 points to her name so far. Not only was Dauenhauer efficient with her attacks, but she also played a part in a defensive role for the Muleriders as she recorded 36 digs and accounted for her fifth and sixth double-doubles of the season.
 
Kabisch, even after limited play early last week, still leads the Muleriders by far for digs. The native of Henrietta, Texas, at least doubles everyone else on the team for digs with her 413 thus far, which ranks second nationally and in the GAC. Her digs per set are also among the nation's best, as the senior is averaging 5.83 digs per set and ranks sixth nationally and second in the league. To earn her the Defensive Player of the Week accolade, Kabisch also shifted around a program record. In the Blue and Gold's outing against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas' libero, Sadie Kabisch, tied for the second-most digs in a single match with 44 digs against the Savage Storm. Her 44 digs tied an 18-year-old mark set by Mallory McKee (10/30/2007) and was later met also by Hannah Rice (11/19/2015), for Kabisch to become the third Mulerider to reach 44 digs in a single match. The Lone Star native has also tied for the fifth-most digs in a single match, also done by Mallory McKee.
 
Currently leading the Muleriders in assists is Hayden Pinard. The junior field general out of Roseburg, Oregon, sits atop Southern Arkansas' assist leaders with 402 thus far (7^th GAC). Pinard also averages 5.51 per set (9^th GAC). She is also second on the team for service aces with 17, only behind junior out of Wichita Falls, Texas, Kendall Toliver. Toliver leads the group with her 25 service aces this season (8^th GAC). Three Muleriders have accounted for 30+ blocks this season. The leader of those three is Courtnee Morgan, a sophomore from Lufkin, Texas. Morgan leads the Blue and Gold with her 43.0 total blocks and is the only member of the squad with 11 solo blocks. Just behind her are Allie Cooper (39.0 total blocks) and Jessica Porten (35.0 total blocks).
 
SAU vs. OBU | Oct. 16 | 6:00 PM
10th Meeting, OBU lead 9-0
First Meeting: 10/16/2015 - 3-2 OBU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 10/18/2024 - 3-0 OBU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W9 OBU
In their first week of Arkansas action, the Oklahoma Baptist Bison are coming off losses in their last two outings, which happen to be their first bit of action against the Natural State within the GAC. OBU fell by way of the Lady Bisons of Harding University (3-1) and the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech (3-0). Before the group's pair of losses, Oklahoma Baptist started its conference schedule 5-0, its overall record at 13-4.
 
Leading the way for the Bison offense has been Rylee Unruh and Allie Stricker. Unruh, a junior from Lawrence, Kansas, leads the group in kills and points, as she has accounted for 194 kills and 238.0 points. She also leads the team for service aces with 34, which is third in the conference and 23^rd in the nation. Stricker sits right behind Unruh for kills and points, with the junior out of Coppell, Texas, having recorded 188 kills and 204.5 points.
 
The Bison have five members with at least 100 digs this season, and leading that group is Karsyn Hunter with 297 digs. Hunter also averages 4.57 digs per set. When setting up a crucial attack, OBU looks for two players to orchestrate their plays with Emily Boyer and Madi Barnes. Boyer, a junior from Choctaw, Oklahoma, leads the group in assists with 392 and averages 6.03 per set. Barnes ranks second on the team for assists with her 257 and 4.15 per set.
 
SAU vs. SNU | Oct. 17 | 4:00 PM
15th Meeting, SNU lead 11-3
First Meeting: 9/22/1995 – 3-1 SNU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 10/17/2024 - 3-1 SNU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W1 SNU
 
The Crimson Storm seek their second win in the Great American Conference play this season after starting the league year with a 1-6 record. Southern Nazarene's lone win in the conference came at home for the group's Dig Pink Game against SE. The Crimson Storm defeated the Savage Storm 3-0 before falling in their next three league outings to Southwestern Oklahoma State (3-0), Arkansas Tech (3-0), and Harding (3-0). Heading into the weekend, SNU comes off a home win against Oklahoma Christian by way of a 3-1 final.
 
Southern Nazarene is led in scoring by Kate Wright, with her 179 kills and 201.5 points. Wright also leads the team in kills per set with 3.38, which is second in the GAC. Leading the team in service aces has been Hannah Morgan, a sophomore middle blocker from Waxahachie, Texas. The Lone Star native leads the team with 28 service aces and is responsible for the second-most points scored by the Crimson Storm with 132.0.
 
The unit looks towards one main setter in Brelee Mauldin. The sophomore floor general from Gunter, Texas, has accounted for 354 assists with 6.21 being recorded per set. Defensively, the group has five players with at least 100 digs, and the two that lead that group are Megan Branson and Sydney Marquez. Branson, a sophomore from Edmond, Oklahoma, leads the team in digs with her 142 and 2.58 average per set. Marquez is not far behind Branson, as the freshman from Oak Point, Texas, has tallied 132 digs and averages 2.44 per set.
 
Broadcast Information
Both outings will be broadcast on both teams' Hudl TV fan pages. Both teams' fan pages can be found in the links above.
 
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