ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State extends its home win streak over Southern Arkansas to nine after sweeping the Muleriders in the Duke Wells Center on Tuesday.
 
The HSU (11-5, 3-1) defense held SAU to an attack average of .107 and 22 errors, compared to the Reddies offense, who recorded 42 kills on a .205 attack average. Brae Denton and Christiane Uzoh were part of the success on defense with four and three blocks, respectively, while Trinity Sharp had 14 digs.
 
Madison Hatt and Violeta Mendoza Quintana both had double-doubles, as Hatt saw 18 assists and 11 digs, while Mendoza Quintana had ten kills and 14 digs. Denton and Uzoh combined for 15 kills and Jagoda Szybinska and Larkin Luke each tallied five apiece.
 
SET ONE
The Reddies were quick out of the gates in the opening set, racing ahead to a 7-0 lead after six kills and a SAU attack error. Denton and Uzoh had two kills each during the flurry of attacks, while Mendoza Quintana and Mia Sanchez each had a one. The Muleriders found their footing after an early timeout with a 4-0 run followed by another 4-0 stretch to tie the set 9-9.
 
Another burst of attacks by Southern Arkansas would see them take the lead 13-11, but HSU responded with a 5-0 tear with a kill and service ace by Luke to go back ahead 16-13. The two sides traded points till the very end, and SAU would have to defend an HSU set point, but the Reddies would find a breakthrough on a kill from Denton and block by Sanchez to win the set 27-25.  
 
SET TWO
Southern Arkansas had a quick start to this set, jumping on top 6-3. Henderson matched the Muleriders' flurry of attacks with a 5-0 stretch, capped off by a service ace from Nathalie Van to lead 8-6. The Reddies continued to hold a two to three-point margin over SAU and would extend their advantage after kills from Denton, Uzoh and Szybinska to 16-10.
 
SAU battled back to cut the deficit to two, 24-22, but HSU closed the door on the late rally on a kill from Mendoza Quintana to take the second frame, 25-22. Henderson finished the set with a .237 attack average and 15 kills, led by Denton, who had four.
 
SET THREE
The two sides traded the first four points before HSU went on a 7-0 tear to go ahead and Sanchez added to the lead with a kill, 10-3. SAU slashed the deficit to four on a 3-0 run, but the Reddies matched the Muleriders with a 3-0 stretch of their own, 14-7. Back-to-back service aces from Hatt and a Mendoza Quintana kill grew the gap to 19-8. In control, HSU would finish off the set on a kill by Jacey Tupper to win the final frame 25-15.
 
Henderson State resumes action on the road when they take on Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. from inside Steelman Fieldhouse.