UAM TOPS SAU IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team won its third consecutive match by taking down conference-rival Southern Arkansas in four sets Tuesday. The Blossoms earned the four seed in the Eastern Division for the Great American Conference Tournament and will host their first round contest at Steelman Field House.
With the win over SAU, UAM improves to 5-5 overall on the season and 5-5 in GAC play. SAU falls to 1-8 overall and 1-8 in league contests.
UAM started slow in the opening set, but quickly battled back to take the lead and eventually build a four point advantage at 12-8. The Muleriders would not go away easily, however, rallying back to take a late 19-18 lead before closing with four unanswered to win the set 25-21.
The Blossoms fell behind again in the second set before going back-and-forth with SAU for the majority of the set. UAM scored four straight to break a tie at 10, but the Muleriders would tie it up again at 15. The two teams would then exchange points until the Blossoms scored the final four to win the second set 25-19.
UAM carried that momentum into the third set to take the early lead before landing in ties at 11, 14 and 15. The Blossoms broke out of the final tie of the set with a 4-0 spurt to take a lead they would not surrender ultimately winning the set 25-21.
The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair early, but this time it was SAU putting together a run to take a commanding 15-10 lead. UAM quickly responded with four straight points however the Muleriders still managed to hold the lead late 20-17. The Blossoms closed with an 8-3 run scoring the final four points of the set to win 25-23 and take the match 3-1.
Katie Pearson put together an impressive performance to lead UAM setting up her teammates to finish with a career-high 56 assists.
Four Blossoms were the primary beneficiaries of Pearson’s career-night as Isabelle Combs, Mikaela Brown, Faith Wilemon and Taylor Calhoun each registered double-digit kills.
Defensively, UAM was led by Katelyn Richbourg and Kenzi Thornton who each recorded 16 digs.
