MONTICELLO, Ark. - Sophomore
Evalyn Dang and senior
Bruna Silva set new career highs in service aces as the Blossoms volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist University, 16-25, 25-14, 11-25, 21-25, Thursday evening after a hard-fought fight inside Steelman Fieldhouse.
The loss dropped the Blossoms to 4-20 on the season and 0-14 in GAC play, while the Tigers improved to 17-9 and 8-6 in GAC play.
Arkansas-Monticello was held to a .055 hitting percentage on 68 digs, 36 assists, 5 blocks, 12 aces, and 37 kills.
While
Evalyn Dang and
Bruna Silva set career highs in service aces, they also managed to set new season highs, at two and four, respectively, alongside
Jalen Scroggins, who set a new season high with three blocks.
Setter
Jordan Wehr achieved her 400th dig as a Blossom during the second set of the night.
SET-BY-SET
FIRST SET (16-25 OBU, OBU leads 0-1)
The Blossoms started the first set of the night down early, 8-3 to the Tigers who managed to capitalize against the UAM defense with seven kills. Arkansas-Monticello put points on the board, but it wouldn't be enough as they still saw themselves trailing, 9-17. The Blossoms scored four unanswered points to cut the deficit to five, 13-18. The last-minute rally proved insufficient as UAM managed to add just three more points to the board, compared to Ouachita's eight, dropping the set to the Tigers.
SECOND SET (25-14 UAM, Matched tied 1-1)
Ouachita was up early over the Blossoms in the second set, 8-3. This time however the Cotton Blossoms flipped the script outscoring the Tigers 11-3, in 14 serves, including a 5-point run, to take a 14-11 lead. From there UAM took full control only allowing Ouachita to earn three points to their 11. The Cotton Blossoms would win 25-14, securing their first winning set since October 18th.
THIRD SET (11-25 OBU, OBU leads 1-2)
After a strong outing in set two, the Blossoms saw themselves down early 2-3, and quickly found themselves down deeper on the scoreboard after allowing the Tigers to earn six-straight points, 9-2. Monticello mustard only three points to make it, 5-11 OBU. The Tigers took off and never looked back only allowing UAM to score six points on 20 serves, taking the set and the lead once more.
FOURTH SET (21-25 OBU, OBU wins 1-3)
Like the last set, Monticello fell behind to Ouachita quickly, 7-2. Needing to win to force a winner-take-all set five, the Blossoms began a massive comeback, scoring seven points to the Tigers two, to tie the set 9-9. Both teams would trade points before UAM took the lead 15-14. The lead evaporated as quickly as it came, when the Tigers tied it at 15, and took five off the Blossoms, outscoring them 1-7. Arkansas-Monticello continued to fight, bringing it to within three, 20-24, but the green and white could only add one more. Ouachita would take set four, 21-25, and the match, 3-1.
MATCH LEADERS
MATCH NOTES
- The Blossoms 12 serving aces were the highest since September 14, when they recorded 13 against Catawba.
- Jordan Wehr's 16 digs in the match, helped her surpass 400 career digs.
- Mia Smalls recorded her fifth double-double of the season, with 17 digs and 19 assist.
- Bruna Silva earned her second double-double of the year, with 13 digs and 12 assist.
- Bruna Silva also set a new season high and career high on service aces with four.
- Jalen Scroggins set a season high in blocks with her three on the night.
- With her two service aces, Evalyn Dang set a new season and career high.
POST GAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH ARLICIA ORTIZ
UP NEXT
The Blossoms return to the court next Tuesday, Nov. 12, for an evening match-up and Senior Night, as they take on the Muleriders of Southern Arkansas University. The first serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello, Arkansas.
Links to both live stream and live stats are available as clickable links on the
2024 UAM Volleyball Schedule at uamports.com.
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