MONTICELLO - The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team took down rival Southern Arkansas 3-2 this evening, in a GAC match-up at home inside Steelman Field House.

• Final set scores from the match were 25-11, 25-22, 21-25, 23-25 and 15-13 in favor of UAM. 
• The Blossoms improve to 6-9 (1-3 GAC) overall this year. 
• SAU falls to 6-12 (0-4 GAC) in 2017. 

• UAM dominated the opening set of play in this conference match-up, generating runs of 5-1, 6-1, 5-0, and 4-0 throughout to win the set 25-11, and take the early 1-0 lead in the contest. 
  
   

  

• The Blossoms continued to use its momentum in the second set, holding a slim lead over the Muleriders throughout most of the competition with multiple kills from Kassidy Pomeroy and service aces from Toryn Cox, and Aubrey Harrison to put the score at 14-8. 
• Southern Arkansas began to chip away at the UAM lead, but four straight Arkansas-Monticello points, due to Maggie Pyles' two service aces, one kill, and an attack error from SAU, saw the Blossoms win it 25-22.

• Southern Arkansas began its comeback in set three after creating a 7-1 run over UAM early on to jump out to a 12-8 lead. 
• Arkansas-Monticello generated several small runs of its own, with Laurene Cushinberry leading the way with back-to-back kills and one block, but the Muleriders were able to seal off the set win, 25-21. 
   

• The Blossoms and the Muleriders traded points back-and-forth throughout the fourth set in this rivalry match-up, as UAM complied a 23-22 lead late in the set after a kill from Vanessa Pawlak, and block from Pomeroy and Cushinberry.
• SAU recorded three straight points on a UAM service error and two kills to claim the set 25-23, and send the match into a final set number five.
   

• The final set of this contest saw the Blossoms out in front early on, taking advantage of SAU errors, and getting an offensive boost from Pawlak and Pyles to hold an 8-4 lead.
• The Muleriders found a way to take a 12-11 lead late in the set, but Pyles, and Pawlak continued display their offensive power to record kills to put the set, and the match away at 15-13. 
   

• Senior Vanessa Pawlak powered the UAM offensive attack as she totaled a career-high 20 kills in the match-up, and recorded a .236 hitting percentage.
• Toryn Cox posted 32 total assists, while adding 15 digs to her stat-line. 
• Maggie Pyles and Aubrey Harrison each tallied double-digit kills on the night with Pyles providing 15, and Harrison with 11. 
• Harrison, and Laurene Cushinberry each contributed 6.0 blocks in the contest on the defensive side of the ball. 
• Macy Mitchell anchored the Arkansas-Monticello defense with 29 kills in the match as well. 
  
   

• The Blossoms will next look to take on undefeated and nationally ranked #19 Arkansas Tech in a Great American Conference showdown in Russellville, Arkansas this Thursday, September 28 with first serve set for 6:00 p.m.