MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team will host Henderson State University on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for its final home game of the regular season. The game will be a Blackout at the Steelman Field House as UAM hopes to amplify the crowd. A win could go a long way in deciding if the Blossoms will make the GAC Championship Tournament.
LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
UAM VS.
HENDERSON ST. – 11/12 – 6 P.M. –
LIVE STATS,
LIVE VIDEO
UAM INFORMATION
Overall Record: 11-16
GAC Record: 6-8
GAC Standings: Ninth Place
Streak: Lost One
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Ultimately, the Blossoms are aiming to win out and put their postseason fate mostly in their hands. UAM is in ninth place behind Arkansas Tech and Ouachita Baptist who are tied for seventh. If UAM could win both against Henderson State and Ouachita, it would increase their chances of making the tournament. A Ouachita loss against UAM and SAU in their final two games could push them out of contention. If UAM ends up in a two-way tie with Arkansas Tech, the Blossoms would get in due to winning both matchups against the Golden Suns this season.
UAM NOTES
UAM is looking to bounce back on Tuesday following a loss on the road against Harding. Prior to that, the team was riding a four-game win streak, its longest of the season.
If UAM makes the GAC Championship Tournament, it will be the first time the Blossoms have played in it since 2016.
Tuesday's contest against Henderson State will be the second time the teams will meet this season. The Blossoms opened conference play on the road at Henderson State earlier in the year and lost, 3-1.
Leslie Polanco and
MarKayla Dickie are the team's top attackers with Polanco providing 306 kills and Dickie adding 268. The pair average 3.19 and 2.88 kills per set, respectively.
Katie Pearson has proven to be one of the top additions to the team and the conference this season ranking fifth in the GAC in assists per set at 8.91. She is one of just four players in the league to have over 800 assists this year.
Jessica Mahan has been another key offensive and defensive cog on the UAM roster. Mahan is third in the conference in service aces at 36 and is fifth in digs with 441.
Other UAM players who have been exceptional on defense are Polanco, Pearson,
Katelyn Richbourg,
Zealia Kleitz,
Taylor Calhoun and Dickie.
Polanco has added 336 digs to UAM's total of 1,782 and she also adds 24.0 total blocks. Richbourg and Pearson rank third and fourth on the team in digs with 246 and 228.
At the net, UAM's key blockers are Kleitz, Calhoun and Dickie. Kleitz paces the team with 77.0, while Calhoun has posted 72.0 and Dickie adds 70.0.
MATCHUP
Opponent: Henderson State University
Overall Record: 19-11
GAC Record: 9-5
GAC Standings: Tied for fourth
Streak: Won four
HSU NOTES
Henderson State has already clinched a GAC Championship Tournament spot this season, but its seeding in the tournament is yet to be determined.
The Reddies are riding a four-game winning streak with wins at Ouachita, Arkansas Tech, Southern Arkansas and Texas Southern.
Courtney Bolf and Sabrina Show are the team's top attackers with 378 and 307 kills, respectively.
HSU has two setters that have accounted for over 1,000 of the team's assists with Abby Blackburn totaling 678 and Taylor Scalzi posting 491.
MaKenzie Thoman and Bolf are each over 500 digs this season with Thoman posting 4.72 per set and Bolf at 4.41 per set.
Adrianna Hartmann has been the team's top blocker totaling 132 blocks including 111 assisted blocks.
UP NEXT
UAM will conclude its regular season on Thursday when it travels to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to play Ouachita Baptist at 6 p.m.
