MAGNOLIA, Ark. – "On the road again", says the Mulerider Volleyball team, as the group travels about nine hours southwest to Kingsville, Texas, for the Javelina Volleyball Classic, hosted by Texas A&M-Kingsville from Thursday through Saturday (Sep. 11 – 13).
Southern Arkansas takes the trip after gaining back some momentum with an outstanding 2025 home opener against the Central Baptist College Mustangs, in which the Muleriders toppled CBC 3-0 with set wins of 25-15, 25-7, and 25-16.
The weekend slate for the Blue and Gold looks as follows. Southern Arkansas will take on the Javelinas of TAMU-Kingsville on Thursday (Sep. 11) at 6:30 PM. The following day (Friday | Sep. 12), SAU will have two opponents. The first event is at the University of Bridgeport at 10:00 AM, followed by Saint Martin's University at 4:30 PM. For the final outing of the weekend, the Muleriders will face Lake Erie College at 8:00 AM on Saturday (Sep. 13).
Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-1)
The Javelinas enter their own tournament with a strong start to the new campaign. Kicking off their season, TAMU-Kingsville defeated Great American Conference opponent, the Harding Bisons, in a five-set match at the Union (Tenn.) Volleyball Tournament, located in Jackson, Tennessee. Kingsville went on to win two of their next three matches, with their lone loss coming against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Bridgeport (0-1)
Thus far, the Purple Knights have played in just one match this season and fell in that outing 3-2 to Pace University Setters. After starting down 2-0 to Pace, Bridgeport nearly mounted the comeback for the reverse sweep but fell to the Setters in the fifth set 15-11. The Purple Knights are set for one more contest prior to facing SAU on Friday, as the group will take on the Molloy Lions tonight in Rockville Centre, New York.
Saint Martin's (3-1)
The Saints make the trip to South Texas after starting their season off at 3-1 in the Eagle Classic in Chadron, Nebraska. The group overcame Chadron State 3-0, Black Hills State 3-0, and the University of Mary 3-1. SMU's lone loss in the invitational, and so far this season, came by the hands of the Augustana Vikings, as Augie defeated the Saints 3-0.
Lake Erie (3-1)
The Storm got their season started up in the Hall of Fame City Challenge, located in North Canton, Ohio. The group came away with a pair of wins at the challenge, triumphant over Point Park 3-0 and Lock Haven 3-1. Lake Erie's solo loss this season came in their final bout of the challenge against California (Pa.) 3-1. Much like the Muleriders, the Storm opened home play on Tuesday evening with the group defeating Central State 3-2 for their third win of the season.
A Look at SAU
The Muleriders travel to the Lone Star State following the group's first victory of the season against CBC. In that win over the Mustangs, the Muleriders recorded an attack percentage of .290 with an individual set-high of .323 in the third set. Southern Arkansas recorded 16 kills in the first set of the match. The second set saw the Blue and Gold win with just 28 total attacks while producing just 11 kills.
Offensively,
Allie Cooper and
Jessica Porten led the way with each junior accounting for six kills on 10 attacks. With both having a single attack error, the two had identical attack percentages at .500. Porten ended up having the second-most service aces out of the Muleriders' nine, with Porten recording three.
Leading the team in service aces was junior setter
Hayden Pinard. The native of Roseburg, Oregon, accounted for four service aces against the Mustangs. Pinard also led the way for Southern Arkansas in assists after tallying 14 for the match. The team leader for digs was none other than team captain
Sadie Kabisch, after recording 17 for the evening.
Broadcast Information
All games will be broadcast through FloCollege.com. To see all links to stream every match from the Javelin Volleyball Classic, click
here.
