Box Score
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Despite Henderson State University volleyball team's (1-9, 0-2 GAC) effort in its three matches, Southern Arkansas (7-4, 1-1 GAC) walked away with its first conference win Tuesday evening in a 3-0 victory.
 
The Lady Reddies had their best showing on the road against a tough Southern Arkansas team, as HSU was unable to get the road win, losing in straight sets, 25-15, 25-19 and 25-19.
 
Henderson State was held to a .057 attack percentage compared to SAU's .318. Junior Katrina Goulbourne (Visalia, Calif.) led HSU in kills with nine. Jessica Moss (Jr., Garland, Texas) and Jami Jackson (Jr., Kennett, Mo.) added four a piece. Defensively, the Lady Reddies were led by senior Cheyenne Derr (Mansfield, Ark.), who added seven of the teams' 26.
 
Early on in the first set, Moss blocked an attack by Lauren Woods to give HSU a 2-1 lead. Trailing by two, Henderson State kills leader, Goulbourne, received a top-notch assist from Thompson to bring the Lady Reddies within one. Ahead by six, SAU extended their lead even further and eventually took a double-digit win in set one, 25-15.
 
Set two was not how the Lady Reddies wanted to start off, but a strong effort by the entire team almost mounted a comeback. Going on an 8-3 run, the Lady Reddies utilized errors by the SAU offense and kills by Derr and Thompson. With the Muleriders at set point, Goulbourne did not allow that feat to come so quickly, as she recorded a kill but it was not enough to hold off SAU.
 
In the third set, a back-and-forth battle was shown to Southern Arkansas' home crowd as the game remained even at 17. An SAU sub broke the momentum for the Reddies and the Muleriders found themselves with a three-point lead late into the set.
 
Coach Thigpen called a timeout in effort to seek a comeback, but SAU mauled their way to 25 points and ended the night with a sweep.
 
The Henderson State Lady Reddies will return home for a five-game home stance on Thursday, Sept. 26 against Arkansas Tech at 7 p.m. HSU will also be hosting spirit night for all HSU sororities, fraternities and other organizations. Cash prizes will be awarded to the two loudest and most spirited groups.
 
For the latest HSU news and results, be sure to visit www.HSUSports.com.