MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Southern Arkansas Volleyball opened its Senior Night contest with a strong first-set performance, but the Muleriders were unable to maintain that momentum against Harding on Tuesday evening, falling 3-1 inside the W.T. Watson Center. The Blue and Gold claimed the opening frame before the Lady Bisons responded by taking the next three sets to secure the Great American Conference victory by scores of 22-25, 25-19, 25-19 and 25-17.
Leading the Mulerider offense was Peighton Killeen, as the freshman recorded a team-high 12 kills while hitting .281. Senior Allie Cooper added 11 kills and accounted for a .345 hitting percentage, while fellow senior Jessica Porten contributed nine kills while hitting .350. Brinklee Dauenhauer also finished with nine kills.
Hayden Pinard directed the offense with 41 assists and added 16 digs, while Kendall Toliver paced the defensive effort with 32 digs. Southern Arkansas finished with 53 kills, 50 assists and 91 digs, while recording five service aces. The Muleriders also held an advantage in digs over Harding, which finished with 87.
Set One (W, 25-22)
Southern Arkansas opened the match with an impressive start, overcoming Harding's first point to take an early 5-1 advantage. Cooper helped spark the run with a service ace, while Killeen added a kill and the Lady Bisons committed a pair of attack errors. Harding worked its way back into the set, eventually trimming the margin to 10-9 before the Muleriders answered with timely points from Cooper and Killeen. The teams continued to trade points through the middle portion of the frame, with SAU maintaining a narrow advantage. Harding eventually evened the score at 22-22, but the Muleriders responded with three consecutive points to close out the set. Porten delivered back-to-back kills before Dauenhauer recorded the set-winning point, giving Southern Arkansas the 25-22 victory.
Set Two (L, 25-19)
The Lady Bisons responded in the second set, using a strong offensive performance to even the match. Southern Arkansas initially carried its momentum into the frame, jumping out to a 2-0 lead behind a Dauenhauer service ace and a kill from Addy Vollmer. Harding answered and gradually took control, with the teams trading points through an 8-8 tie. The Muleriders continued to find production from Killeen, Cooper and Vollmer, but Harding began to create separation late in the set. After SAU pulled within one at 15-16, the Lady Bisons put together a stretch of points to extend their advantage. Harding closed the frame with a 25-19 win to even the match at one set apiece.
Set Three (L, 25-19)
Harding carried its momentum into the third set, building an early advantage and forcing the Muleriders to play from behind. The Lady Bisons scored the first three points before Killeen and Vollmer helped Southern Arkansas get on the board. SAU continued to battle, with kills from Dauenhauer, Cooper and Killeen keeping the Muleriders within reach. After Harding moved ahead 13-8, Southern Arkansas began to chip away at the deficit. Killeen delivered consecutive kills, while a block from Charley Walker and another from Cooper helped bring the Muleriders within two at 14-12. Harding responded with a scoring stretch to regain control, however, and maintained its advantage through the closing points to take the set, 25-19.
Set Four (L, 25-17)
Facing a must-win fourth set, Southern Arkansas looked to extend the match, but Harding established control early. The Muleriders kept the opening portion competitive, with kills from Killeen, Walker and Porten helping SAU remain within striking distance. After the score was tied at 6-6, the Lady Bisons began to create separation, putting together a run that pushed their lead to 13-8. Southern Arkansas continued to fight, with Dauenhauer, Killeen and Cooper contributing points as the Muleriders worked to close the gap. Harding maintained its advantage through the final stretch, eventually reaching match point at 24-17 before recording the final point to claim the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-1.
Up Next:
Southern Arkansas closes out its regular-season schedule on Thursday, November 5, as the Muleriders travel to Monticello, Arkansas, to face the University of Arkansas at Monticello. First serve is scheduled for 6 PM.
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