KINGSVILLE, Texas — Mulerider Volleyball (1-5) began their weekend at the Javelina Volleyball Classic on Thursday evening as the unit took on the classic's host in Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-1). Southern Arkansas went set for set with the Javelinas on their home court, but came up just short against the hosts in a five-set match, the Muleriders' second five-set match in just six outings.
The opening set saw the Javelinas start off strong with a quick three kills and a 3-0 advantage. The group never once let up in opening set of the match as they tallied a lead by as much as ten points after going up 18-8. While SAU attempted to surge back, TAMUK made its way to a set one victory, 25-16.
Set two saw a much different beginning and end from the first. The Blue and Gold jumped out ahead early and quickly, with a 4-1 lead over the Javelinas. Kingsville followed this up with a 4-1 run of its own, tying the set at 5-5. The two oppositions would trade two-point blows back-and-forth until Southern Arkansas rattled off a 6-1 stretch to go up 13-8. In that, Hayden Pinard tallied a pair of service aces. TAMUK never stood down, as the squad brought the set back within two, scoring five to the Muleriders next two, 15-13. SAU then created the separation needed to go up 20-14, thanks to a couple of Kendall Toliver kills and service aces. The Javelinas would bring the set back within three on two instances (21-18, 23-20), but would come up short with the set being capped off by a Brinklee Dauenhauer kill for the 25-20 set two win.
While the Muleriders gained the initial advantage in the third set, the Javelinas came out as strong they could ever in set three. In the set, TAMUK recorded three shutout stretches of four or more points scored, with the nail in the coffin coming after a Kingsville 8-0 run to go up 24-8. The Javelinas went on to win set three 25-10.
Even after a down set, the Muleriders never once backed down, as the unit started set four on the right foot with a 3-0 lead with some help from TAMUK attack errors. The Javelinas would gain their first lead of the fourth at 8-7 before Southern Arkansas accounted for a 5-1 run to obtain an advantage of 12-9. From the on, the Blue and Gold never lost their lead again, but only saw a tie at 23-23 before the group claimed a set four victory with a kill by Allie Cooper, 25-23.
After forcing a fifth set against the Javelina Volleyball Classic hosts, the Muleriders started off right with earning the first point in the final set with an error in their favor. However, Texas A&M-Kingsville followed this up with the team's second 8-0 run of the night to take control of the set with an 8-1 lead. SAU combated against the deficit by going blow-for-blow after the large deficit, but the separation proved to be too large as the Javelinas went on to win the match with a 15-7 fifth set triumph.
Next Up:
Southern Arkansas now prepares for a two-match day tomorrow (Sep. 12), as Head Coach Alli Harrell's unit will be set to face the University of Bridgeport at 10:00 AM and then Saint Martin's University at 4:30 PM.
All live coverage links for Mulerider Volleyball's contests tomorrow can be found here.
