MONTICELLO, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team opened play at Steelman Field House with a Great American Conference victory over Ouachita Baptist Tuesday. After splitting the first two sets, the Blossoms took down the Tigers in the third and fourth to claim their first win of the 2021 season.

The two teams went back-and-forth during the opening set with the score being tied up 13 different times. The final tie of the set came at 21-21, but UAM closed with a 4-1 run capped off by a kill by Kenzi Thornton to take the 1-0 lead.

The second set was another tightly contested battle with six lead changes. The Blossoms tallied 14 kills and made it to set point with a 24-22 lead, but could not finish off the Tigers. The score was knotted at 24, 25 and 26 before OBU took advantage of a service error by UAM to rally for the final two points and win the set.

UAM fell to a small deficit early in the third set, but rallied to end up at the final tie of the set at 12-12. The Blossom then tallied a 13-5 run highlighted by three kills from Faith Wilemon to retake the lead 2-1 after three sets.

The fourth and final set was all UAM from the beginning as the Blossoms never trailed after jumping out to the early 3-1 lead. OBU managed to tie things up at 10, but UAM took full control from there. The Blossoms capitalized on multiple attack errors by the Tigers down the stretch to outscore OBU 15-8 to win the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.

Three players posted double-digit kills for UAM with Wilemon and Victoria Hamilton leading the way with 12 each. Madison Kleewein followed right behind with 10 kills of her own.

Katie Pearson racked up an impressive 48 assists to go along with four kills of her own.

Defensively, Katelyn Richbourg kept several rallies alive with 41 digs. The Blossoms also posted 11 blocks as a team.

UP NEXT

UAM will be back on the road as they travel to face Henderson State Tuesday, Feb. 16. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.