MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Mulerider Volleyball has returned to the W.T. Watson Center and the Blue and Gold returned in sweeping fashion, handling their business against the NAIA's A&M Texarkana Eagles, defeating the Red River Athletics Conference affiliate 3-0.
The Muleriders' victory also marked the first loss for the Eagles since September 4, breaking the groups nine-game winning streak.
The Muleriders were led in scoring by senior Brinklee Dauenhauer, with the Springtown, Texas native accounting for 11 kills and 12.0 total points after recording her 25th service ace of the season.
With the most efficient swing by the Muleriders' offense, Allie Cooper led the unit in attack percentage with double-digit attacks, as the Brownsboro, Texas local recorded a .500 hitting percentage with eight kills on 14 attacks with one error.
Leading the team in assists for her third-straight game was Kate Schofield, as the sophomore tallied 25, a new season high.
Kendall Toliver led the way in digs, as she secured the back row with her 18 digs.
Set One (W, 25-23)
To begin the match, the Muleriders jumped to a quick 3-1 advantage with kills from Allie Cooper, Brinklee Dauenhauer, and Jessica Porten. After the Eagles closed the gap to a 4-3 game, Southern Arkansas went up three with 6-3 and 7-4 advantages. The Blue and Gold continued to hold its lead for a little longer, but A&M Texarkana surged back with a 3-0 stretch to tie the set at 10-10. The two groups went back-and-forth, until the Eagles went up 14-13. Texarkana seemed to have seized momentum, but the Muleriders did not sit back and came back after going down 19-17, as SAU scored four points to A&M's one, retaking the lead at 21-20. The two groups went back and forth again, but the Muleriders capped the exciting opening set with an assisted block from Jessica Porten and Courtnee Morgan as well as a solo by Allie Cooper.
Set Two (W, 25-16)
The beginning of the second set saw the Eagles starting strong, hanging with the Muleriders and even taking control for a bit with a 4-0 stretch, going up 10-8. Texarkana held its two-point lead at 12-10, but SAU then seized momentum from the Eagles, as the Muleriders rattled off a 8-1 stretch, going up 18-13. Southern Arkansas soon followed that up with a 4-1 run to go up 22-14. To end the set, SAU secured the second set with a 3-2 stretch, ending on a service error by A&M.
Set Three (W, 25-16)
The Blue and Gold picked up right where they left off, as the group's confidence was skyrocketing after starting the the set up 8-1. Even after the Eagles countered with four points to Southern Arkansas' one, 9-5, the Muleriders jumped up nine points with a 5-0 run to go up 14-5. Despite the Eagles' best efforts, Southern Arkansas went on to secure the match win with a final 4-0 stretch.
Up Next
The Muleriders are back in action this Thursday and Friday, as the group resumes Great American Conference action against Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Nazarene. SAU will take on OBU at 6:00 PM on Thursday, and then will face SNU at 4:00 PM on Friday.
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