SEARCY, Ark. - The 2021 spring season comes to a close for the University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team after falling in three sets in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference Tournament on the road against Harding. The Blossoms finish the season with a 6-6 record including earning the program's first GAC Tournament win since joining the league in 2011.
UAM fell behind early in the first set before battling back to get within three points at 13-10. Harding responded pushing the score out to 20-13. The Blossoms went back-and-forth with the Lady Bisons down the stretch, but dropped the set 25-17.
The second set started with the Blossoms falling behind, but UAM again fought back to keep the contest tight. UAM cut the deficit to one before Harding put together a 6-2 run to get some breathing room. The Blossoms did not go away quietly responding with a 3-0 to climb within four points before exchanging scores with Harding late, ultimately falling 25-19 in the second set.
UAM held the lead early in the third set using a 5-1 scoring run to build a 7-4 advantage. The two teams would again go back-and-forth through the bulk of the set landing in a tie three different times. However, the Lady Bisons scored six straight to take control 17-11. The Blossoms fought down the stretch to pull to a tie at 24, but UAM was unable to close out the comeback losing the third set 26-24.
Four Blossoms had at least seven kills in the contest led by Faith Wilemon with eight. Mikaela Brown, Victoria Hamilton and Madison Kleewein added seven kills each.
Katie Pearson tallied 24 assists to lead UAM while adding 17 digs.
Defensively, Katelyn Richbourg paced UAM 19 digs to go along with four assists and two service aces. Kenzi Thornton also registered double-digit digs with 10.
Three Blossoms garnered All-GAC honors this season as Pearson, Richbourg and Wilemon were each honorable mention selections. Pearson earned conference Setter the Week twice during the season while Richbourg was named Defensive Player of the Week two times.
UAM picked up the program's first GAC Tournament victory since joining the conference by beating Ouachita Baptist in the first round to ultimately finish the 2021 spring season with a 6-6 record.