MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team came up short in three-set home loss to Southern Nazarene on Friday in a match that included 33 tie scores and 19 lead changes.

Final game scores were 25-23, 25-19 and 26-24. The Blossoms (7-11, 1-7 Great American Conference) finished the match with 39 kills and 17 errors on 132 swings for a .167 percentage, while the Crimson Storm (10-12, 6-2 GAC) countered with 46 kills and 16 errors on 121 swings for a .248 percentage.

There were eight tie scores and five lead changes in the first set, nine ties and five changes in the second set, and 16 ties and nine changes in the third set. SNU put together streaks of three and five straight points in the first two sets, respectively, to close out the win in each frame.


In the third set, neither team led by more than two points throughout. After an SNU service error at match point, the Crimson Storm responded by back-to-back kills to seal the final set and the match.

The Blossoms were led by sophomore Aubrey Harrison, junior Carolina Gasparini and senior Sydni Schulz. All three finished with nine kills each. Harrison had the best percentage of any single player on either team with only one error on 19 swings to finish a .421.

Seniors Lani Kaiwi and Kaila Kikugawa paced the back row with 13 and 11 digs, respectively. Gasparini also had 10 digs to finish just one kill shy of what would have been her third double-double of the year.

Junior setter Dianna Etienne recorded a career-high 34 assists in the loss.

The Blossoms are back in action on Saturday at home against Oklahoma Baptist. First serve is set for noon inside Steelman Field House. UAM is continuing its Dig Pink weekend during tomorrow's match. The Blossoms are accepting donations to benefit the Side-Out Foundation.