MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team defeated the Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns on Breast Cancer Awareness Night at Steelman Field House in Monticello, Arkansas Thursday. The Blossoms had not won at home yet this season, and ATU was riding a 10-game winning streak.
 
It was loud, pink and rowdy at the field house on Thursday throughout the entire match.
 
UAM was sparked by the crowd and had excellent play from its key attackers in MarKayla Dickie and Leslie Polanco.
 
After winning the first set, 25-23, the Blossoms dominated set two, 25-11, and battled in the third set to get the win, 25-21.
 
In that second set, UAM tallied an impressive .423 attack percentage and held ATU to a negative attack percentage of -.080.
 
Prior to the match, the Golden Suns were riding a 10-game winning streak dating back to September 14th.
 
Arkansas at Monticello was also 0-2 at home entering the contest and was coming off a loss against Harding.
 
For most of set one, the team's battled back-and-forth until the Blossoms pulled away scoring four straight points making it, 16-13, on kills from Halli Lambert, Katie Pearson and a couple of errors by ATU. The Blossoms later would score three consecutive to make it 23-18, and then concluded the set shortly after on a big-time kill by from Dickie.
 
The building became emphatic to start set two as the Blossoms tallied six-unanswered points, and later would get ahead, 19-3. UAM soon after closed-out the set on a huge solo block from Zealia Kleitz to earn the set win, 25-11.
 
As for set three, ATU was battling trying to stay alive, and at one point had a three-point lead, 17-14. However, back-to-back points, and a big kill from Polanco eventually leveled the score, 18-18. The Golden Suns did take a 21-20 lead, but UAM tallied five straight points to get the set victory, and the win, 25-20.
 
Dickie paced all attackers with 16 kills, while Polanco added 12 to the cause.
 
 
Pearson assisted on 37 kills and also managed double-digit dig figures with 11.
 
UAM had five key service aces in the game with three coming from Polanco, and two from Jessica Mahan.
 
On defense, Polanco and Mahan had 12 digs apiece, while Katelyn Richbourg led the way with 13.
 
Kleitz posted three assisted blocks and three solos, while Polanco assisted on two. Other blockers were Dickie, Lambert and Taylor Calhoun, all with one assisted block.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will begin a four-game road trip with a Great American Conference match at Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Friday, October 11. First serve is set for 6 p.m.