MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Going back on the road, Mulerider Volleyball (4-9 | 0-2 GAC) looks for a huge bounce-back as the Blue and Gold head to Russellville, Arkansas, to take on the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns inside the Tucker Coliseum on Thursday at 6:00 PM.
 
Southern Arkansas is coming off its second contest in the Great American Conference, as the Muleriders were defeated by the Henderson State Reddies while at home with a 3-0 final. In the bout, SAU was led by freshman Peighton Killeen in scoring, as the local of Flagstaff, Arizona, accounted for 11 kills.
 
The group was led in digs by Kendall Toliver, with the senior leading the game with 28 digs and outdoing the nation's leader in digs.
 
Heyden Pinard once again led the unit in assists, as the senior recorded 40 assists, her second time this season with 40 or more.
 
After Tuesday night's outing, Killeen and Brinklee Dauenhauer continue to be the only two Muleriders with 100+ kills, with Killeen leading at 129 (12^th GAC) and Dauenhauer (17^th GAC) following with 120. While being second in kills, Brinklee, a native of Springtown, Texas, leads the Blue and Gold in total points, currently with 145.5. Her lead in points is primarily assisted by her 23 service aces this season (2^nd GAC | 16^th DII).
 
Toliver rises amongst the GAC ranks in total digs and digs per set, with the Wichita Falls, Texas native currently ranking fifth in the league for total digs (221 | 15^th DII) and third for digs per set (4.80 | 39^th DII).
 
Since the switch to Pinard being the primary setter, the Roseburg, Oregon native is now eighth in the GAC for total assists (318), and is seventh in the conference for assists per set (6.91).
 
SAU vs. ATU | Sep. 17 | 6:00 PM
71st Meeting, ATU leads 55-25
First Meeting: 9/14/1979 - 3-2 SAU win (Conway, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 11/6/2025 - 3-2 ATU win (Russellville, Ark.)
Streak: W2 ATU

Arkansas Tech comes fresh off its final early-season tournament, as the Golden Suns finished 1-3 at St. Joseph, Missouri, falling to Missouri Western (3-0), Central Missouri (3-1), and Illinois-Springfield (3-2). In the tournament, ATU defeated McKendree 3-0.
 
In conference action, the Golden Suns are 1-0, defeating the Henderson State Reddies 3-1 while at home on September 8. In that match, ATU was led by three individuals with double-digit kill figures, with Henley Hooks leading the pack with 18 kills. Hooks is currently ranked sixth in the GAC for total kills, having produced 145 (29^th DII) and an average of 3.02 per set (5^th GAC).
 
Arkansas Tech's second-highest kill producer this season has been Erika Hernandez with 127 (13^th GAC), and while she does not lead in kills, she leads in efficiency. The sophomore is currently posting an attack percentage of .447 (1st GAC | 8th DII), with only 244 attacks and 18 errors.
 
The Suns' offense runs through one setter, with the group led by Kenzie Garrett's 322 assists (7^th GAC).
 
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