UAM-HSU Box Score (HTML)
UAM-MC Box Score (HTML)

MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team recorded a pair of 3-0 sweeps in its own tri-match on Tuesday in victories over Henderson State and Mississippi College. The win over HSU gave UAM its fifth conference victory of the season and punched the team's ticket into the GAC Championship Tournament in Hot Springs next month.

Final game scores in the win over HSU were 25-22, 25-21 and 25-18. Final scores of the win over the Choctaws were 25-22, 25-15 and 25-15. Henderson State edged Mississippi College 3-1 in the middle contest of the tri-match.

In the win over the Lady Reddies (3-22, 0-11 GAC), the Blossoms (11-11, 5-6 GAC) jumped out to early leads in each of the first two sets. After starting the first frame 8-1, HSU eventually brought the set to within one point late at 22-21, but two HSU errors and a kill from senior Tasha Evans put the Blossoms up 1-0.

In the second set, the Blossoms again got up early, leading 8-2 in the first 10 rallies. HSU posted another late rally, scoring six straight at set point before UAM finally put it away on a kill from freshman Aubrey Harrison. In the third set, UAM ended a back-and-forth rally by taking a five-point lead midwy through the frame and held at least that much of a lead throughout the set to seal the match win.

UAM hit .221 against HSU with 46 kills and 17 errors on 131 swings. Senior Tasha Evans led the Blossoms with 13 kills and a .545 percentage. Senior Jessica Cuba added a double-double of 11 kills and 12 digs. Junior Lani Kaiwi led the Blossoms' back row with 19 digs. Jessica Moss led the Lady Reddies with 11 kills.

In the nightcap, the Blossoms allowed Mississippi College to keep it close in the first set before pulling away in the final two frames to keep the team's perfect set record intact for the day. The Blossoms hit. 205 against the Choctaws with 38 kills and 15 errors on 112 swings. Evans again led UAM with 11 kills and a .444 percentage.

UAM spread out its defensive numbers against MC. Kaiwi led the way with nine digs, while sophomore Brittney Beckham and junior Kaila Kikugawa each added eight.

Ashton King led the Choctaws with nine kills.

The Blossoms do it all over again this Friday, October 24 with another tri-match at home inside Steelman Field House. UAM faces Texas College at 3 p.m. and Mississippi Valley at 7 p.m. TC and MVSU play each other at 5 p.m.