UAM COMES UP JUST SHY AGAINST TECH
Connor McGinnis
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team fell just shy of taking down Arkansas Tech on the road in its first Great American Conference matchup of the season Tuesday. After dropping the first two sets the Blossoms battled back to force a fifth set, but ultimately came up short in the final set 17-15.
UAM fell to 5-5 on the season after dropping its first conference match of the season.
The opening set went the way of ATU as UAM fell behind early before fighting back to make it tight at 14-13. The Golden Suns responded, however, pushing their lead back out to close the first set 25-15.
In the second set UAM scored the first two points which led to a tight back-and-forth battle through the majority of the set. The two squads exchanged leads seven times and met in ties 10 separate times. ATU managed to take control down the stretch taking the set 25-17.
The Blossoms and Golden Suns traded points throughout the third set with the squads landing tied 14 times. The final tie came at 23-23 before a kill by Tori Hamilton and a service ace by Katelyn Richbourg gave UAM the set win 25-23.
A hot start to the fourth set helped UAM build a 14-9 lead midway through the set. The Blossoms held off ATU responding each time the Golden Suns tried to put together a run. UAM ultimately won the set 25-22 to force a fifth and final set.
The decisive fifth set saw 12 ties as the two teams battled back-and-forth throughout meeting with the final tie of the set at 15-15. Unfortunately, ATU picked up back-to-back kills to win 17-15 and take the match 3-2.
Five players tallied at least eight kills for UAM in the contest with Hamilton leading the way with 10. Faith Wilemon and Mikaela Brown followed with nine apiece while Jamie Agnew and Riley Krenek each had eight.
Kalin Duncan led the way for the Blossoms with 41 assist to go along with 12 digs and two service aces.
Defensively, Richbourg and Taylor Crighton paced UAM with 19 and 14 digs, respectively.
UP NEXT
UAM heads to the Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas Friday, Sept. 17. The Blossoms will play two matches meeting against Auburn Montgomery at 11 a.m. and Mississippi College at 2:30 p.m.
