MONTICELLO, Ark. — Mulerider Volleyball traveled to Drew County for the team's first match with Arkansas-Monticello this season, and with both teams looking for their first Great American Conference (GAC) victory of the year, much of the remainder of the season rested on this outing. Southern Arkansas came off one of its top performances of the season, regardless of the 3-2 loss to the Harding Lady Bisons, and looked to capitalize on the momentum built up from their showing against one of the GAC's best groups. The Blue and Gold in fact did take hold of their Tuesday momentum and overwhelmed the Cotton Blossoms inside Steelman Fieldhouse with a sweeping triumph against UAM.
Once again leading the Muleriders in scoring was junior middle blocker Allie Cooper. The Brownsboro, Texas native recorded another fantastic evening after accounting for her second double-digit kill match of the week and tallying 10 kills on just 13 attacks with two errors. Cooper also recorded her second match of the week with a .500 attack percentage, as she produced a .615 attack percentage. The junior not only scored via kills, but also recorded a pair of service aces and three total blocks with two solos and one assist.
Both Hayden Pinard and Jaci Moore shared the setter spotlight for the match as Pinard led the Muleriders with 18 assists and Moore recorded 14. Seeing her first action as the Blue and Gold's libero was the freshman from Plano, Texas, Audrey Letcher. The Texas native accounted for a game-high of 21 digs and saw just one reception error.
First Set (W, 25-18)
Starting off the Battle of the (Volleyball) Timberlands, both units began the match tight, with the Cotton Blossoms even gaining the lead fairly early into the set with a 5-0 stretch to go up 9-6. The UAM surge forced the Muleriders to burn their first timeout of the opening set, and the group came out of the huddle flipping the match back around with a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead, 12-9. Arkansas-Monticello took the blow, but did not back off from the challenge ahead, as the Blossoms rattled off a 5-1 stretch to take back the advantage, 14-13. Fortunately for the Muleriders, history repeated itself with another six points unanswered to stretch the SAU lead to 19-14. From then on, the Muleriders took the set by the reins for a 25-18 opening set triumph. With the set one win, Southern Arkansas has won the opening set for the third time in the last four matches.
Second Set (W, 25-17)
Unlike the first set, the Muleriders started with the lead and never forfeited it as the group assumed control with a 10-4 advantage and remained in control despite a few insurgence from the Cotton Blossoms. UAM stayed with the Muleriders with a 4-1 stretch to bring the set back within four points, 18-14. Southern Arkansas shut down that revolt with a 4-0 run to extend its lead to eight, 22-14. SAU went on to close out the second set with a 25-17 final.
Third Set (W, 25-18)
Arkansas-Monticello might have been down two sets to their in-state rival, but the group would not back down so easily as the group claimed a pair of leads going up 2-1 and 4-3. With the set being tied at 5-5, Southern Arkansas once more took full control with its third 6-0 stretch of the match for an 11-5 advantage. Even after a run of three unanswered points by the Blossoms, the Muleriders continued to hold control with their lead only getting as low as three points. The Blue and Gold went on to seize the third set from the Cotton Blossoms 25-18.
Players of the Game
Allie Cooper: 10 kills, 13 attacks, 2 attack errors, .615 attack percentage, 2 service aces, 3 total blocks (2 solos | 1 assist), 14.5 total points
Brinklee Dauenhauer: 8 kills, 29 attacks, 4 attack errors, .138 attack percentage, 3 service aces, 11 digs, 11.0 total points
Hayden Pinard: 18 assists, 1 block assist
Jaci Moore: 14 assists, 8 digs
Audrey Letcher: 21 digs, 4 assists, 1 service ace
Up Next:
SAU is set for a three-match week next week as the Muleriders will start it off on the road on Tuesday evening in Conway, Arkansas. Southern Arkansas will face Central Baptist College for the second time this season for a 6:00 PM first serve. The Blue and Gold will then begin their Sooner State conference competition with Southeastern Oklahoma State coming into town on Thursday (6:00 PM) and East Central entering the W.T. Watson Center on Friday (4:00 PM).
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