MONTICELLO — After going down two sets to none to start Thursday night's match, the University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team rallied to win the next two sets, but fell short in a five-set thriller against Ouachita Baptist inside Steelman Field House.
 
Final game scores were 12-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-17 and 9-15.

The Blossoms (9-17, 1-13 Great American Conference) were their own worst enemy in the first set, committing 15 errors and only posting 10 kills for a negative hitting percentage. UAM steadily improved that number over the next three sets, including its best performance of .243 in the fourth set victory.

UAM fell back to negative percentage in the final set, while the Tigers (15-9, 8-6 GAC) posted a .235 percentage to seal the win on the road.

Senior Sydni Schulz led all players in the match with a career-high 22 kills on 69 swings for a .246 percentage. She also added 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.

Junior Carolina Gasparini followed with a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs. Junior Kya Standford had 12 kills and a team-high four blocks.

Senior Kaila Kikugawa paced the defense and tied for the match-high with 29 digs. It was also a career-high in digs. Junior Alissya Theis smashed her previous career high in assists with 53.

The Blossoms close out their current three-match home stand on Friday night against Mississippi Valley State starting at 6 p.m. inside Steelman Field House.