BATESVILLE, Ark – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team defeated NAIA opponents Tougaloo College (Miss.) and Lyon College (Ark.) in a pair of matches at the Lyon College Tri-Match Tournament on Monday in Batesville, Arkansas.
 
After defeating Tougaloo in straight sets in the first contest, the Blossoms had a solid challenge in Lyon in game two, but UAM prevailed in that one too, also winning in straight sets.
 
Katie Pearson was great all around totaling 51 assists, four kills and seven services aces over the two contests
 
Another key performer on the day was Zealia Kleitz who managed 14 kills and five blocks in two games.
 
UAM will look to build off the two-game win streak when it returns to Great American Conference play on Friday against Southern Nazarene.
 
The Blossoms are now 7-13 overall, eclipsing their win total from a season ago.
 
Match One
UAM defeated Tougaloo in the first match of the day in straight sets.
 
The Blossoms came out firing tallying a .328 attack percentage. They dominated the first set, 25-2, won the second set 25-18, and finished off the victory in the third set, 25-9.
 
Pearson had three kills of her own, adding to her 20 assists and five service aces in the game.
 
The Blossoms tallied 14 service aces in the contest led by Jessica Mahan who registered six. Josi Revielle, Katelyn Richbourg and Taylor Calhoun managed one apiece.
 
Zealia Kleitz led all attackers with seven kills. She also recorded a .778 attack percentage and tallied two assisted blocks on defense.
 
Although the offense was firing, there was still defense to be played. Mahan recorded 10 digs and Pearson tallied six of her own.
 
MarKayla Dickie led the way in blocks with four assisted while Devyn Simpson registered three.
 
Match Two
In the second contest, Lyon gave UAM a battle in each of the three sets. The Blossoms were behind in the first set, but eventually came back to win, 25-19, and later, they rallied to win the second set, 25-21. In the third, UAM found its rhythm and dominated, 25-14, en route to the win.
 
Leslie Polanco led all attackers with 11 kills, while Dickie and Kleitz added eight and seven, respectively.
 
Pearson continued her distribution of the wealth tallying 31 assists.
 
On defense, Mahan and Polanco had double-digit dig numbers recording 17 and 15, respectively.
 
Kleitz led all blockers at the net with three total blocks including two big solos helping propel UAM to the final set victory.
 
UP NEXT
Arkansas at Monticello will host SNU Friday at 6 p.m. for Senior Night at the Steelman Field House.