MAGNOLIA, Ark. – With one final contest for the 2026-27 campaign, Head Coach Alli Harrell and her Muleriders (9-19 | 3-12 GAC) set their sights on a strong finish in Monticello, Arkansas, as Southern Arkansas is set for its regular-season finale against the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (3-26 | 1-14 GAC) on Thursday, November 5, at 6 PM.
 
The Muleriders come into the finale still being led by senior Brinklee Dauenhauer, as the Springtown, Texas native has 282 total kills this season and leads the team with 329.5 total points. Dauenhauer secondary points this campaign have come from beyond the backline, with the senior accounting for 41 service aces and ranking third in the Great American Conference.
 
With the fourth-highest attack percentage in the GAC, senior Allie Cooper leads the way for the Blue and Gold, with the Brownsboro, Texas native accumulating a .327 hitting clip. Cooper also sits at third for SAU in total kills and total points, accounting for 190 kills and 241.5 points. The Texan is still sitting at second on the team in total blocks with 53.0 (18 solos | 35 assists). She sits right behind Courtnee Morgan with 57.0 total blocks (22 solos | 35 assists).
 
Eclipsing 600 assists on Tuesday (Nov. 3), senior Hayden Pinard has reached 630 assists this season and has surpassed 1,300 career assists with the Muleriders, as the Roseburg, Oregon local continues to be the lead director for Southern Arkansas' offense. She is also still second on the team in service aces with 24.
 
Still well in the lead for total digs, Southern Arkansas is led by Kendall Toliver with 562 digs and an average of 5.40 per set.
 
SAU at UAM | Nov. 5 | 6:00 PM
44^th Meeting, SAU leads 24-19
First Meeting: 10/11/2005 - 3-1 UAM win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 9/24/2026 - 3-0 SAU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W9 SAU
 
For the second, and final, time this season, the Muleriders and Cotton Blossoms clash for the 44^th time. The Blue and Gold have won the last nine outings and look to extend their streak to 10 straight wins against the Blossoms.
 
Arkansas-Monticello is coming off by far their most impressive win this campaign, as the group came off of five-straight losses via the sweep and then swept the Henderson State Reddies on Tuesday night (Nov. 3). Not only was the win the first league triumph for UAM since the 2023 campaign, but it is also the first sweeping of a conference team since doing the same thing at Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 2022 against Henderson State.
 
Sophia Grubbs continues to lead the Blossoms in scoring, with 295 kills and 312.5 total points. She has continued to put the pressure on her opponents all year, as she ranks fourth in the GAC for total attacks with 1,048, which also ranks 22^nd nationally.
 
The primary setter for Arkansas-Monticello has been Ella Cline, a junior from Elk Grove, California. The Pacific Coast native leads the unit with 408 assists this season and is followed by Shayla Lacamiento's 237 assists.
 
Two Blossom have recorded 300+ digs so far, as Isabella Garcia and Allyson Rosa have both done so. Garcia currently leads UAM in the category with 332, while Rosa follows closely with 315.
 
There have also been two primary blockers for Monticello, as Kylie Miller has tallied 49.0 total blocks and Jalen Scroggins has tallied 42.0 total blocks.
 
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