UCO BOX SCORE  /  NMHU BOX SCORE

DENTON, Texas – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team concluded play in the Texas Woman’s University Holiday Inn Express Classic on Saturday with 3-1 losses to Central Oklahoma and New Mexico Highlands.

The Cotton Blossoms (0-4) started the day by posting a four-set loss to Central Oklahoma (1-2) by final scores of 22-25, 25-21, 17-25, and 18-25. The team posted a .030 hitting percentage led by senior Amy Kleypas’ team-best 11 kills on 56 swings with eight errors for a .054 percentage.

Junior Tusalava Kuaea followed Kleypas with six kills on 28 swings with three errors for a .107 percentage. Senior Allison Beardsley paced the UAM defense with her first 20-dig performance of the season with 24. Kleypas and junior Meagan Peters also reached double-figures in that category with 16 and 14, respectively.

UCO’s Barbara Jackson led all players in the match with 13 kills.

Later in the day, UAM posted a four-set loss to New Mexico Highlands (3-1) by scores of 23-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 21-25.

Junior Victoria Bozzo recorded a match-high 20 kills on 48 attempts with four errors for .333 hitting percentage. Kleypas followed closely with 18 kills.

Beardsley posted her second consecutive 20-dig performance with 23 in the loss, while Kleypas, Peters and junior Amy Bazemore also reached double-digits with 12, 11 and 11 digs, respectively. Bazemore recorded a season-high 45 assists in the loss.

Dairan Mullen led NMHU with 19 kills and eight digs.

The Cotton Blossoms return to action next weekend at the Arkansas Tech Spikefest in Russellville. UAM is scheduled to play McKendree, Arkansas Tech, Central Oklahoma and Lindenwood throughout the two-day event, beginning Friday, September 7 against McKendree at 2 p.m. Live stats of each match will be provided at http://athletics.atu.edu.