MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Great American Conference play is back in action, as Mulerider Volleyball looks to host the Henderson State Reddies for the group's GAC home opener (Sep. 15 | 6:00 PM). For the Blue and Gold's match inside the W.T. Watson Center, SAU will host its third annual Kidney Foundation Game, where Mulerider Volleyball encourages fans to wear green to show support for the National Kidney Foundation.
 
The unit comes off a 2-2 week, in which Southern Arkansas defeated Southwest Baptist and Missouri S&T by sweeping the two Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents.
 
SAU Statistical Leaders                                        
Two Muleriders currently have 100+ kills this season, as Freshman Peighton Killeen leads with 118 kills (13^th GAC) and Brinklee Dauenhauer follows with 113 (18^th GAC). The senior from Springtown, Texas (Dauenhauer) is the group's leader in total points at the moment, having recorded 138.5 total points this season. Brinklee's points are largely assisted by her service aces, which she leads the Blue and Gold with 23 aces (2^nd GAC | 11^th DII).
 
After a breakout week, Hayden Pinard is the lone SAU setter with 200+ assists. The Roseburg, Oregon, native is currently at 278 assists (8^th GAC).
 
Kendall Toliver still leads the Muleriders in digs, as the senior from Wichita Falls, Texas has accumulated 193 digs so far (7^th GAC). Also, Toliver is coming off her second All-Tournament Team performance after being named to the Harding Invitational's All-Tournament Team over the weekend.
 
The current leader in total blocks for SAU is junior Courtnee Morgan, as the Lufkin, Texas native leads the group with 35.0 total blocks (13 solos | 22 assists) and is 11^th in the league.
 
SAU vs. HSU | Sep. 15 | 6:00 PM
82nd Meeting, HSU leads 48-33
First Meeting: 9/29/1977 - 3-0 HSU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 11/4/2025 - 3-1 SAU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W1 SAU

The Reddies are coming off their best weekend yet, as the group finished at the Triton Invite in St. Petersburg and Dade City, Florida, with a 3-1 record. At the tournament, HSU defeated Georgia College & State 3-1, Saint Leo 3-1, and Franklin Pierce 3-0. Henderson State's lone loss from the weekend was a 3-1 loss to Eckerd College.
 
Overall, the Reddies enter the week with a 6-7 record and are 0-1 in league play, losing at Arkansas Tech (3-1). On Thursday, Henderson State will head back to Arkadelphia to host the Harding Lady Bisons.
 
HSU Statistical Leaders
HSU is led in kills by Kelis Battles, as the sophomore from Little Rock, Arkansas has tallied 161 kills (3^rd GAC | 13^th DII) and averages 3.29 per set (3^rd GAC). Battles also leads the group in total points with 185.0 points, as she has recorded 16 service aces and 12.0 total blocks. She stays on the attack at all times, as she currently leads the nation in total attacks with 579. The second-most kills on the team is Lasheena Gooseberry with 126 kills and 150.0 total points.
 
Leading the group in assists is Tyhia Mack, with the sophomore leading with 259 assists (9^th GAC). The unit is also led by Kaylon Partain for digs, as the senior leads not only the Reddies and the GAC, but the nation in total digs with 321 digs and an average of 6.55 per set.
 
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