MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Volleyball is back inside the W.T. Watson Center, as Southern Arkansas looks to take on the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms this Thursday (Sept. 24) for a 6:00 PM match against the Great American Conference foe.
 
After coming off a tough loss on the road against the Harding Lady Bisons, the Blue and Gold are still in search of their first GAC win of the season, but so are the Cotton Blossoms.
 
A Glance at Southern Arkansas
As mentioned, the Muleriders enter the Thursday night matchup after being defeated on the road in Searcy, Arkansas, on Tuesday night. Southern Arkansas began the outing up two sets to none, but were overcome by the Lady Bisons in the three sets that followed, falling in five sets.
 
The Muleriders are currently led in scoring by senior Brinklee Dauenhauer, with the Springtown, Texas local currently at 141 kills (12^th GAC) and 169.0 total points. Alongside a few blocks, Dauenhauer's other primary source of scoring besides kills has been her serves, as she is currently the third-highest-ranked player in the league for service aces at 24 (35^th DII).
 
The team leader in assists continues to be Hayden Pinard, now at 381 assists and still sitting in eighth place for total assists in the conference. A native of Roseburg, Oregon, Pinard is also ranked eighth in assists per set, currently at 6.93.
 
Southern Arkansas' Kendall Toliver is the team's leader in total digs, with the senior's 281 digs ranking her fourth in the GAC and tenth in the nation.
 
For the team, the Muleriders have been a threat offensively all season, with the group consistently putting the pressure on their opponents, averaging 39.07 attacks per set (3^rd GAC | 7^th DII).
 
 
SAU vs. UAM | Sep. 24 | 6:00 PM
43^rd Meeting, SAU leads 23-19
First Meeting: 10/11/2005 - 3-1 UAM win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Last Meeting: 11/13/2025 - 3-0 SAU win (Magnolia, Ark.)
Streak: W8 SAU
The Cotton Blossoms aim for a major bounce back, with the unit coming off its eighth-straight loss, and in those last eight matches, Arkansas-Monticello is 1-24 in sets. The unit is coming off its most recent set win, as UAM took the first set against the red-hot Henderson State, winning the opening round 25-18.
 
The lead scorer for the Blossoms is currently Sophia Grubbs, with the senior from Okinawa, Japan recording 166.5 total points and 156 kills. She is in the top ten of the GAC in total kills, currently ranked ninth. Grubbs has been UAM's go-to attacker this campaign, ranking fifth in the league with 553 attacks (11^th DII).
 
Assists have been split between two individuals for UAM, with Ella Cline leading the unit with 194 assists and Shayla Lacamiento behind her with 145 assists.
 
Three Blossoms have been on the heavy receiving end of attacks this campaign, with Isabella Garcia leading the team with 167 digs. She is followed by Allyson Rosa (161 digs) and Maelie Cooke (150 digs).

 
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