MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball (4-11 | 0-3 GAC) gets set for another weekly round of Great American Conference play this week, as the Blue and Gold prepare to face the Harding University Lady Bisons (11-3 | 2-1 GAC) inside the W.T. Watson Center on Tuesday, September 30, at 6:00 PM before traveling northeast to Monticello, Arkansas for a match with the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (3-9 | 0-3 GAC) on Thursday, October 2, at 4:00 PM.
 
A Look at SAU
Southern Arkansas seeks a bounce back in a big way after the Muleriders are coming off their fourth-straight loss with their Thursday night outing at Henderson State, losing 3-0. SAU is also in search of the unit's first GAC victory of the season after starting the campaign 0-3.
 
Sadie Kabisch continues to be dominant on the defensive side of the net, as the Lone Star native still has the nation's most digs recorded this Fall. Currently in that category, Kabisch is tied with Henderson State's Kaylon Partain at 322 total digs. The senior from Henrietta, Texas, is also sitting in second place in the GAC for digs per set with an average of 5.85. The only person in the league that Kabisch trails is Ouachita Baptist's Kylie Kisgen with an average of 5.98 digs per set. Kisgen is also the nation's leader for the statistic, with Kabisch sitting at fourth in the country.
 
The Muleriders have kept the pressure on opposing defenses with plenty of attacks recorded, as the group leads the GAC in total team attacks with 2,077 (6^th DII). With the number of attacks recorded, the group is bound to record plenty of kills. The Blue and Gold are currently ranked fourth in the league for total kills this season with 656, which sits at 21^st nationally.
 
Leading the team in attacks and kills is junior Brinklee Dauenhauer. As of now, the Springtown, Texas native has recorded 451 attacks (6^th GAC | 45 DII) and has seen 132 kills (13^th GAC) throughout those attacks.
 
SAU vs. HU || Sep. 30 || 6:00 PM
74th meeting, HU leads 55-19
First Meeting: 9/15/1983 – 3-0 SAU Win (Neutral Site)
Last Meeting: 11/14/2024 – 1-3 HU Win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W18 HU
 
The Lady Bisons enter the week with an 11-3 overall record, with a 2-1 record in the GAC. After a solid 9-2 start in non-conference play, Harding opened up competition in the Great American Conference with a win at home over Henderson State, 3-1. The group later went to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on Thursday for a match with the reigning league champions, the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. HU took their third loss of the season, 0-3, and their lone loss in the conference. Most recently, the Lady Bisons faced Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday (Sep. 27) and claimed a sweeping victory over the Cotton Blossoms.
 
The Lady Bisons' offense has been impressive all season, as the group is currently the league leaders for team kills (703 | 9^th DII), team service aces (116 | 8^th DII), and team assists (647 | 10^th DII). Going along with that, HU is also the GAC leader for aces per set with an average of 2.11 per set. The Lady Bisons' hitting percentage is the third highest in the conference, with a .222 attack percentage.
 
The team has a pair of individuals ranking first in two different statistics. Those two include Ella Drake for service aces, and Olivia Wiedower for assists. As of now, Drake sits at the top of the Great American Conference with her precise serves, claiming 31 service aces thus far and ranking 5^th in the nation. The Lady Bisons' setter, Wiedower, is the GAC's current leader for total assists after having recorded 479 and ranking 14^th in the country.
 
SAU at UAM || Oct. 2 || 4:00 PM
40th meeting, SAU leads 21-19
First Meeting: 10/11/2005 – 1-3 UAM Win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 11/12/2024 – 3-2 SAU Win (Monticello, Ark.)
Streak: W6 SAU
 
The Battle for the (Volleyball) Timberlands will have quite a similar matchup this year, as both groups, depending on Tuesday's matches, will look to earn their first GAC triumph of the season. The Cotton Blossoms have begun the season at 3-9 overall and are currently 0-3 in GAC competition. For the Blossoms, the team has yet to see an outing in which the losing team has recorded a set victory. In all 12 matches for UAM, the losing team has not won a single set, whether that be the Blossoms or their opponent.
 
Arkansas-Monticello has struggled to generate consistent team production through the early part of the season. The most consistent piece in their puzzle this season has been redshirt-senior Mia Smalls. The native of Burleson, Texas, has been a premier setter for UAM and the GAC so far, as Smalls is currently the only player in the conference with a triple-double. The Lone Star native earned the feat against Christian Brothers (9/20/25) with 10 kills, 13 assists, and 11 digs.
 
Broadcast Information
The game against Harding will be broadcast live on HudlTV. Click here for the Southern Arkansas University team site to watch all the action.
 
To buy tickets for the game against Harding, click here.
 
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