RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Mulerider Volleyball went back on the road for their third Great American Conference matchup of the season. Southern Arkansas took on the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns, and despite a strong performance and an attempt at a late match comeback, the Muleriders fell to ATU 3-1.
The Blue and Gold were led by Brinklee Dauenhauer in scoring, with the senior accounting for 10 kills as well as 20 digs to record her fifth double-double this season.
Recording her 1,000th assist, and more, Hayden Pinard led the unit with 27 assists in the bout, as well as three kills from the setter position.
Another Mulerider with 20+ digs, and leading the group in digs, Kendall Toliver tallied 24 digs.
Set One (L, 25-23)
Southern Arkansas got off to a hot start on the road, as the Muleriders jumped on top of the Suns with an 8-3 advantage, but Arkansas Tech quickly responded with a 4-0 stretch to close the deficit to one at 8-7. After that, SAU gained back a lead to 12-8 after a 4-1 stretch. Following another scoring run by Tech to close the set to one point at 12-11, SAU went back up three with a 3-1 run at 15-12. The Golden Suns quickly countered with a 6-0 stretch to claim its first lead in the set, and the group would not surrender the lead, as the groups went back-and-forth until Tech won the opening set.
Set Two (L, 25-15)
To begin the second round of action, both units went back and forth with scoring runs, as Tech started with a 3-0 stretch followed by a 4-0 run from SAU, 4-3. Following that, Arkansas Tech began to break away from the Muleriders, going up and never turning back to look.
Set Three (W, 25-19)
The Muleriders were now backed into a corner, down 2-0 in the match, and so the Blue and Gold started the third set with a 5-0 stretch, and eventually went up 10-2. The Golden Suns were down, but not out, with the unit coming back with five points at 15-10. The Muleriders did not let the The Golden Suns get fully back into the set, as the group went on to cruise to the set three win, forcing a fourth set.
Set Four (L, 26-24)
Southern Arkansas looked to keep its momentum from the previous set, with the group going up 8-3, and even going up 15-7. From then on, the Suns began their surge back after SAU went up 17-10, ATU ran on a 5-0 stretch to close the gap to two points, 17-15. While SAU went up three at 19-16, Arkansas Tech tied the set at 19-19 with another scoring run of 3-0 with three-straight attack errors. After that, it felt like the Golden Suns had control of the rest of the set, eventually winning the match in extra points.
Up Next:
The Muleriders are still in search of their first win the Great American Conference, as the unit stays in the Natural State next week with a road match at Harding on Tuesday and then a home match against the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Thursday.
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