DENTON, Texas — Southern Arkansas Volleyball wrapped up the weekend in Northwest Texas, as the Muleriders fell to tournament host Texas Woman's University and #15 Central Oklahoma by scores of 3-0.
Vs. Texas Woman's (L, 3-0)
Texas Woman's, the home team for the weekend, handled business against the Muleriders, as the unit started very strong in the contest and never gave any ground to the Blue and Gold, defeating SAU 3-0.
Southern Arkansas had three leaders in kills in game one of the day, as the Blue and Gold was led by Courtnee Morgan, Kendall Toliver, and Peighton Killeen with seven kills each.
In assists, Hayden Pinard once again led the group with 14, while Kate Schofield tacked on 11 of her own.
Toliver also managed to lead the unit in digs, recording 10 of the statistic.
Set One (L, 25-15)
The tone in the Muleriders match against the Texas Woman's Pioneers was set early, as TWU went up 4-0 quickly. While Southern Arkansas attempted to regain its footing, the Pioneers continued to pile on the. Point with multiple attack errors assisting the group in a 5-0 stretch to go up 13-5. Despite a Blue and Gold stretch of 6-2, the effort was not enough, with TWU constantly putting the pressure on SAU and closing out the remainder of the set with a 10-3 run.
Set Two (L, 25-13)
The following round of action went similarly to the first, with TWU starting hot with a four-point lead at 5-1. From then on, the Pioneers continued to secure their lead and increase it, going up 20-9. SAU followed up the large deficit with a 4-2 stretch, but two kills and an attack error clinched the set for Texas Woman's.
Set Three (L, 25-18)
Southern Arkansas started with the lead in the third set, but were countered with four-straight points for the Pioneers, 4-1. The Muleriders kept up with Texas Woman's though, up to being down just one point at the 7-6 mark, but a 5-0 stretch for TWU ended up creating the divide for the the Pioneers to go on and win the match.
Vs. #15 Central Oklahoma (L, 3-0)
The Muleriders and the Bronchos made their second appearance against each other this season, as Southern Arkansas fell to UCO in the last outing by way of a 3-1 final score. The Chos took no chances with the Muleriders this time out though, winning the match 3-0.
Southern Arkansas was led in kills by freshman Peighton Killeen with 10 kills, marking the Arizona native's fourth double-digit kill match so far. Killeen finished with a .304 attack average with just her 23 attacks and three attack errors.
Pinard again led in assists with 15 and leading the unit in digs this time around was Ava Rann with 14.
Set One (L, 25-22)
SAU looked to have started hot in the matchup, with the group claiming a service error and Allie Cooper kill to start up 2-0 before the Bronchos scored the next three points. After Southern Arkansas tied the set up at 3-3, Central Oklahoma added six points to the Muleriders' one, 9-4. SAU responded with a 3-0 run before a back-and-forth sequence took place. That sequence led the Muleriders going up 14-13 following another 3-0 stretch, but UCO immediately countered with a 3-0 stretch of its own to reclaim the lead at 16-14. From then on, the Blue and Gold remained on the cusp of tying or reclaiming the advantage, but the squad could not get over that hump, falling by three in a hard-fought first set.
Set Two (L, 25-14)
The ensuing round started much differently, as Central Oklahoma came out dominant with a 8-1 lead to begin the set. Southern Arkansas was able to cut down its deficit to a four-point match at 14-10. The unit was not able to close the gap though, with the Bronchos going on a 11-4 stretch to close the second set.
Set Three (L, 25-17)
The two squads once again started out close, with the Muleriders starting down 4-1 but closing the deficit by tying the round at 4-4. UCO responded with its own 3-0 run, which provided the Chos the gap and momentum they needed to stretch its lead to a 13-6. The Blue and Gold once again almost completely closed down the gap, but was met with UCO extending its lead back out and eventually sealing the deal with a 10-3 stretch.
Up Next:
The Muleriders' next task will be back in the Natural State for this coming Tuesday (Sept. 8), as SAU will take on the Ouachita Baptist Tigers in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to get Great American Conference action underway.
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