MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team fell in five sets to Southern Nazarene University on Friday night at the Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas. For the Blossoms, it was Senior Night as they honored the careers of Jessica Mahan, Leslie Polanco, Zealia Kleitz, Elizabeth Harshaw and MarKayla Dickie prior to the game.
 
It was a quite the battle at the field house as UAM lost in five sets to the Crimson Storm. After winning set one, 25-21, SNU won set two, 25-23. The Blossoms then won set three but were unable to close out the victory in the fourth set. In the fifth, Southern Nazarene was in control down the stretch, winning 15-7.
 
The biggest lead in the first set was just four points as it was back-and-forth the whole game. UAM closed out the set with back-to-back kills go give UAM the set win.
 
UAM stayed in the second set with the many mistakes SNU made. Southern Nazarene totaled 17 service errors on the day and four in the second set, but the Blossoms had six service errors of their own and they lost set two, 25-23.
 
Arkansas at Monticello rallied in the third set to take a 2-1 match lead. UAM went on a five-point run highlighted by a smooth two-touch attack by Katie Pearson to give the Blossoms a lead, 18-13. UAM eventually won, 25-20.
 
The Blossoms had a lead in the fourth set at 20-17, but SNU took over to go on a five-point run of their own punctuated by a service ace to give the Storm a 22-20 advantage. After a quick two-point rally by UAM, SNU would go on to win the set, 25-22.
 
The final set turned out to be all SNU down the stretch. With the set tied, 7-7, the Crimson Storm then went on an eight-point run to win the set, 15-7, and the contest, 3-2.
 
UAM has played seven games that have gone to five sets and have come out victorious in just one this season.
 
The Blossoms were led by Polanco and Dickie on the attack with 13 kills apiece. Halli Lambert also added 12 kills of her own.
 
Pearson totaled 49 assists in the match, which were a season high.
 
On defense, Mahan paced UAM with 33 digs, while Taylor Calhoun had four total blocks; three of which were of the solo variety.
 
UAM falls to 5-14 overall and 2-6 in Great American Conference games, while SNU improves to 14-6 and 6-2 in GAC games.
 
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UAM will be back in action tomorrow at home against Oklahoma Baptist University at 11 a.m.