FORT SMITH, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team was downed against non-conference opponent Arkansas-Fort Smith Thursday evening in a five-set loss on the road.

Final game scores from the match were 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 25-10 and 15-8. 

Arkansas-Monticello (2-9, 0-1 GAC) despite dropping the opening set in the match, rallied back to claim set two and set three by strong offensive play by Carolina Gasparini and Maggie Pyles. The Lions (4-5) dominated in set number four however and carried that momentum into the fifth and final set, to claim the match overall at 3-2.

As a team, the Blossoms finished with 46 total kills on 186 attempts for a .156 hitting percentage, compared to Arkansas-Fort Smith finishing the match-up with 63 kills on 176 swings for a .261 percentage. 

Gasparini ended the evening totaling 18 kills on 55 attempts and a .236 hitting percentage. Senior Kya Standford and freshman Maggie Pyles each added eight kills a piece.

Standford led UAM on the defensive side of the ball also with two total blocks on the night. Junior Macy Mitchell led the Blossoms in overall digs with 21, while junior Vanessa Pawlak added 18 digs to the defensive effort as well.  Freshman Kendall Vondra complied 41 assists to guide the offense along with adding one service ace and eight digs to her stat line. 

The Blossoms will be back in action next on Tuesday, September 20 as they head to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to square off against Great American Conference foe Henderson State with first serve set for 6 p.m.