MEMPHIS, Tenn - The University of Arkansas at Monticello Volleyball team traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday for the Christian Brothers University tri-match. The Blossoms closed out pre-conference action with back-to-back sweeps over both the Lady Bucs of Christian Brothers University (3-0), (30-28, 25-17, 25-17) and the Lady Braves of Alcorn State University (3-0), (25-17, 25-22, 25-21).
UAM was led the first match with a .239 hitting percentage on 44 digs, 31 assists, 1 block, 4 aces, and 41 kills, and recorded a .245 hitting percentage on 40 digs, 29 assists, 1 blocks, 5 aces, and 39 kills in the second match.
UAM vs. CBU
FIRST SET (30-28 UAM, UAM leads 0-1)
CBU were first to strike in set one, taking the lead 4-8 early. The Blossoms brought the set to within one, adding six points on the board to make it 10-11. UAM would flip the set in their favor, taking the lead for a brief moment, 18-16. The Blossoms and Lady Bucs would exchange possession of leadership of the set six times before evening the set past the needed 25 to win at 28-28. Two kills by Jalen Scroggins would end the set 30-28, in favor of the Blossoms.
SECOND SET (25-17 UAM, UAM leads 0-2)
In a first for the Blossoms this season, UAM would take the lead early, 5-3, over the Lady Bucs and never relinquish control. CBU would bring the score within one, 11-10, but would not be able to squander the Blossom offense as UAM would add 14 points to CBU's seven. The Blossoms took set two, 25-17, and the match lead 2-0.
THIRD SET (25-17 UAM, UAM wins 0-3)
Set three started with the Blossoms down by five early, 9-4. But a spark in the Arkansas-Monticello offense saw the Blossoms take the set lead from the Lady Bucs, 11-10, thanks to three kills from Sophia Grubbs and a kill from Jalen Scroggins. UAM once again, just like in set two, did not give up the lead, adding 14 points again to CBUs' seven, taking the final set, 25-17, and the match 3-0.
UAM vs. CBU LEADERS
UAM vs. ASU
FIRST SET (25-17 UAM, UAM leads 1-0)
UAM was the first on the board in the first set, 1-0, but quickly saw themselves on the opposite side of the scoreboard, as ASU took the lead and stretched it to 8-4, in favor of the Lady Braves. The Blossoms would bringing the set within one, 9-10, before exploding the set wide open with an impressive 10 straight points, 19-10. Alcorn State began to crawl its way back, but the Blossoms would hold them to just 17, taking set one 25-17 and the lead in the match.
SECOND SET (25-22 UAM, UAM leads 2-0)
The Blossoms once again took command of the set early, 8-6. The Lady Braves, however, weren't giving up and took the lead 16-13. Five straight kills from UAM would flip the set in the Blossoms' favor, 18-16. Alcorn brought the set within one in favor of the Lady Braves, 22-21, but an ASU attack error and three kills for the Blossoms would secure a 25-22 win for UAM.
THIRD SET (25-21UAM, UAM wins 3-0)
Needing to win set three to record the first back-to-back, as well as the third consecutive, sweep for the Blossoms, UAM struck first, thanks to four kills and two attack errors; they led the scoreboard 9-4. The Lady Braves would add 16 points to the board to UAM's 10, to take the lead 20-19. The Blossoms allowed ASU just one more point, taking the third set, 25-21, and the match 3-0.
UAM vs. ASU LEADERS
TRI-MATCH NOTES OF INTEREST
- MATCH ONE
- Mia Smalls recorded her first official career Triple-Double, with her 10 kills, 13 assists, and 11 digs.
- She is also currently the only player in the conference with a triple-double.
- The 41 kills against CBU are the most for Blossoms this season.
- MATCH TWO
- Set one's run of 10 points is the longest for the Blossoms under Head Coach Ortiz.
- Brianna Converse recorded a new career high on digs, with her 11 in the match.
- With the second sweep of the day, the Blossoms have recorded three consecutive official (SNHU, CBU, and ASU) sweeps for the first time since 2015.
FROM HEAD COACH ARLICIA ORTIZ
"I'm very proud of the girls for how they played. They played together, played confident, and persisted. Two back to back sweeps is something we haven't done together as a group so this is especially sweet."
UP NEXT
The Blossoms will return to Monticello on Tuesday, September 23, for their 2025 home opener and first Great American Conference game of the season, taking on the defending GAC champion Ouachita Baptist Tigers. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. inside Steelman Fieldhouse. Tuesday's game is also Black Out Night - we encourage all fans to wear black and come support the Blossoms.
Links to both live stream and live stats are available as clickable links on the
2025 UAM Volleyball Schedule at uamports.com.
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