The UAM volleyball team came up short in two matches at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas Friday. The Blossoms fought to the wire in both matches but ultimately lost in five sets to Auburn Montgomery and Mississippi College.
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ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello volleyball team came up short in two matches at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Arkansas Friday. The Blossoms fought to the wire in both matches but ultimately lost in five sets to Auburn Montgomery and Mississippi College.
After dropping both matches UAM fell to 5-7 overall on the season.
In the first match of the invitational UAM battled Auburn Montgomery in a competitive five-set contest that ultimately saw the Blossoms fall 3-2 to the Warhawks.
UAM got out to a strong start winning each of the first two sets.
In the first set the Blossoms took the early lead before the two teams met in ties at 5-5 and 6-6. UAM reclaimed control after the second tie with a 7-2 run to build an advantage. The Blossoms held off the Warhawks to take the first set 25-21.
The second set started in similar fashion as UAM had the early advantage, but this time Auburn Montgomery made it competitive down the stretch. The squads met in three ties in the final few points of the set until UAM got kills from Jamie Agnew and Mikaela Brown to close out the set 28-26.
It was another back-and-forth battle throughout the third set with 13 ties. This time the Warhawks were able to break the final tie at 23-23 with the final two points of the set to win 25-23.
UAM opened the fourth set by scoring the first four points, but a rally by Auburn Montgomery pushed the Warhawks to a 25-20 win forcing a fifth set.
The fifth and final set was a tight battle as the teams exchanged points until UAM surrendered an 8-6 run to the Warhawksto lose the set 15-13 and drop the match in five sets.
Agnew and Faith Wilemon led the attack offensively for the Blossoms tallying 21 and 16 kills, respectively.
Kalin Duncan spread the ball around effectively again collecting 44 assists to go along with three service aces.
Defensively, four players for UAM registered double-digit digs with Katelyn Richbourg leading the way with 21 digs.
In the second match of the day UAM met Mississippi College for a rematch just 10 days after the two teams faced off at Steelman Field House last Tuesday, September 7. The Blossoms won that match in five sets, but this time the Choctaws got the better of UAM in another five set battle.
The first set of the match was a marathon for both teams that included 10 ties and four lead changes. The Choctaws made the early run, but UAM put together a pair of 4-0 runs late to take the lead. It went back-and-forth down the stretch as the set had to go well past 25 points before the MC managed to take the set 29-27.
UAM jumped to the early lead in the second set and rode their strongest offensive attack of the match with 17 kills in the set to 25-23 win.
After UAM got the early advantage in the third set the two teams exchanged runs to take the set down to the wire again. The Blossoms used a 5-1 run to take a late lead 24-22, but the Choctaws responded by scoring four-straight points taking the set 26-24.
In the fourth set the Blossoms rode a pair of scoring runs to control the pace. UAM opened by scoring five consecutive points before MC battled back to take a lead at 16-15. The Blossoms bounced right back with another run scoring seven-straight points to build a six point advantage and hold on to force a fifth set by winning 25-20.
UAM and MC exchanged points and runs to begin the fifth set, but this time it was the Choctaws who were able to take control eventually winning the set 15-9 and taking the match 3-2.
Three players posted double-digit kills for UAM with Agnew leading the way again with 17. Wilemon and Brown followed with 13 and 12, respectively.
Mia Smalls took over the duty of setting her teammates tallying an impressive 44 assists in the match.
On defense, Richbourg registered 24 digs to lead the Blossoms. Smalls (17), Taylor Crighton (15) and Kenzi Thornton (10) each collected double-digit digs as well.
UP NEXT
UAM returns to Steelman Field House to host Southern Arkansas for a Black Out Tuesday, September 21. First serve for the match is set for 6 p.m.
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