MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team secured its first Great American Conference victory of the 2016 season on Tuesday night with a five-set win over Southern Arkansas University on the road. 

Final game scores from the match were 13-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21 and 15-7. 

The Blossoms (3-11, 1-3 GAC) despite falling behind two sets to zero in the match, battled back to win three straight sets to defeat Southern Arkansas (4-11, 1-3 GAC), 3-2 in the match. UAM found an early lead over the Muleriders in set number three but fell behind midway through as SAU led 14-11. Multiple kills from Maggie Pyles and Shay Mitchell sealed set number three for the Blossoms at 25-19.

Arkansas-Monticello never trailed in set number four and forced a final set five against the Muleriders. UAM dominated the final set as multiple SAU errors and serveral kills from Carolina Gasparini, and Shay Mitchell sealed the victory for the visiting Blossoms at 15-7. 

As a team, UAM combined for 56 kills and 20 errors on 182 attempts for a .198 hitting percentage, while Southern Arkansas finished with 56 kills and 21 errors on 171 swings for a .205 percentage.

Offensively Arkansas-Monticello was led by junior Shay Mitchell as she totaled 17 kills on the night on 42 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage. Senior Carolina Gasparini and freshman Maggie Pyles each contributed double digit kills also with 13 and 12 respectively. 

Senior Kya Standford led the defensive front during the contest for UAM with five solo blocks and two block assists against the home team. Standford provided six kills as well. Junior Macy Mitchell recorded a team-high 20 digs in the match-up on the defensive side of the ball for the Blossoms, along with Gasparini's 13 and Elizabeth Harshaw adding 12 digs of her own. 

Freshman setter Kendall Vondra led the Blossoms in assists as she totaled 49 in the match and also added 16 digs to her stat-line. 

UAM will be back in action this Thursday, September 29 to host Arkansas Tech in a GAC match-up inside Steelman Field House with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m.