Blossoms Drop Heartbreaker To OBU
October 25, 2005

ARKADELPHIA, AR --- Led by a match-high 22 kills from Amanda Sayre, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (8-14, 3-6 GSC) picked up their fourth consecutive win, taking a 3-1 decision over Henderson State tonight in Arkadelphia.

The Lady Reddies jumped out to an early lead, dominating the opening match 30-19. Henderson State hit .295 in the first game.

Down 1-0, the Blossoms took an early 6-1 lead in the second game of the match, but the Lady Reddies quickly tied the game at 6-6 and the two teams fought down the stretch, with UAM taking a 32-31 lead on a kill by Sayre and scored the game-winning point on a kill by Kasey McBrearty, tying the match at 1-1.

The two teams played point-for-point in the third game, when UAM pulled away from a 14-14 tie to take a 17-14 lead. The Cotton Blossoms held Henderson State at arm’s length the remainder of the game to go up 2-1. With a 20-18 lead late in the fourth game, the Blossoms finished the match on a 10-5 run to seal the game and match victory.

Sayre’s 22 kills led all players, while McBrearty added 17 kills and Katy Stoneking pitched in 13. Maegan Martin dished out a match-high 55 assists, while Amie Kronk finished with a match-high 28 digs. Joining Kronk in double-digit digs were Katherine Brown (13), McBrearty (13), Martin (11) and Sayre (11).

The Blossoms will try for their fifth consecutive win on Thursday, as they travel to Searcy to face first-place Harding. The match begins at 7 p.m.

MONTICELLO --- Amanda Sayre notched a match-high 20 kills alongside a match-high .349 hitting percentage as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (7-14, 2-6 GSC) swept the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns today at Steelman Fieldhouse.

The Blossoms came out firing on all cylinders in the opening game, opening up a 10-3 lead in the early stages, and holding the Golden Suns at arm’s length the remainder of the game en route to a 30-16 opening game victory.

In the second game, the two teams went point-for-point, with UAM holding a 22-21 lead; when the Blossoms went on an 8-2 run to finish the game 30-23 and take a 2-0 match lead.

The final game was the most hotly contested of the match. The two teams raced out to a 7-7 tie, when Arkansas Tech reeled off three straight points to take a 10-7 lead. Tech pushed their lead out to 16-20, when UAM scored five consecutive points to reclaim the lead at 21-20. Tech was unable to reclaim the lead but tied the match at 28, 29, and 30 before the Blossoms took a 31-30 lead on a kill by Sayre, and Kasey McBrearty notched the match-winning kill on the next play as the Blossoms took a 32-30 decision in the third and final match.

Sayre’s 20 kills led all players, while McBrearty added 19. Kelly Allums led Arkansas Tech with 11 kills.

Maegan Martin led all players with 49 assists and Amie Kronk led all players with 22 digs. Joining Kronk in double-digit digs were Sayre (14), McBrearty (14), and Martin (12).

The Blossoms return to action on Tuesday, October 18 as they travel to Henderson State to face the Lady Reddies in Arkadelphia. The match begins at 7 p.m.

MAGNOLIA --- Amanda Sayre registered a match-high 26 kills as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (6-14, 1-6 GSC) won their first ever Gulf South Conference match, topping Southern Arkansas at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in Magnolia.

The Blossoms dropped the opening game 30-23, but rallied to take a 30-25 decision to knot the match in game two, a 30-28 decision to take the lead in game three and a 30-22 decision in the decisive game four.

Sayre's 26 kills led all players, while Kasey McBrearty also finished in double-digit kills for the Blossoms. Maegan Martin led UAM with 51 assists, while Amie Kronk had a match-high 37 digs. Joining Kronk in double-digit digs were McBrearty (18), Martin (14), Sayre (14), and Katherine Brown (13).

Sayre led the Blossoms with a .292 hitting percentage for the match, while McBrearty added four service aces. Katy Stoneking had a hand in seven blocks, with two solo and five assists.

The Cotton Blossoms return to action on Friday, October 14, hosting Arkansas Tech University. The match begins at 4 p.m.

PINE BLUFF --- Both Kasey McBrearty and Amanda Sayre posted 12 kills as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (5-14) swept the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions (1-17) Saturday in Pine Bluff.

The Blossoms dominated the match, winning 30-22, 30-15, and 30-19.

McBrearty and Sayre's 12 kills were match-highs, while Maegan Martin added 34 assists and Amie Kronk added 14 digs. Sayre added 11 digs in the victory.

Pam Grano hit a match-high .438 for the Blossoms, notching seven kills and no errors in 16 attacks.

The Blossoms return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Magnolia to face GSC foe Southern Arkansas. The match begins at 7 p.m.

MONTICELLO – After holding the Lady Buccaneers close in the first two games, the University of Arkansas at Monticello Cotton Blossoms (4-14, 0-6 GSC) fell behind early in the third and deciding game, falling 3-0 to Christian Brothers tonight at Steelman Fieldhouse.

The Blossoms went point-for-point with the Lady Bucs in the two opening games, falling 30-28 and 32-30, before Christian Brothers opened up a 21-11 lead in the third game before the Blossoms were able to narrow the match to 30-25 at the end.

Amanda Sayre led the Blossoms with a game-high 15 kills, while Kasey McBrearty chipped in 14. Maegan Martin led UAM with 38 assists and 21 digs. Also in double-digit digs were Amie Kronk (13) and McBrearty (11).

The Blossoms return to action on Saturday at 1 PM, traveling to Pine Bluff to face the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The Blossoms return home on Friday, October 14 to face Arkansas Tech.