JOPLIN, Missouri — The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team was defeated by a pair of Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association teams on Saturday in a tri-match hosted by Missouri Southern.

The Blossoms (6-8) started the day with a three-set loss to 12th-ranked Washburn by final scores of 25-8, 25-20 and 25-23. Following that match, UAM fell to host Missouri Southern in three sets by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-21.

After being handled in the opening set against Washburn (15-1), the Blossoms fought back to make the next two sets close, doubling the team's hitting percentage from the first set to the second set, while cutting Washburn's in half. Senior Sydni Schulz led the Blossoms with her second straight double-digit kills performance and her sixth of the season with 12 kills against Washburn and a .290 percentage.

Junior Carolina Gasparini also reached double-digits in kills with 10. Seniors Kaila Kikugawa and Lani Kaiwi led the team in digs with 13 and 10, respectively.

Against Missouri Southern, Gasparini paced the Blossoms with 10 kills. As a team, UAM had 35 kills and 26 errors on 117 swings for a .077 percentage. Missouri Southern had 41 kills and 13 errors for a .272 percentage.

The Blossoms return home for a non-conference match against UAPB on Tuesday, October 6. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside Steelman Field House.