ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Arkansas-Monticello Blossoms (4-8, 0-2) fell to the Ouachita Baptist Tigers (9-5, 1-2) by a final score of 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 13-25, 12-25) on Thursday, at the Sturgis Physical Education Center.
Article by uamsports.com
Set 1
Arkansas-Monticello opened the first set matched, 7-7, with Ouachita. The Tigers eventually broke the tie, taking a 12-10 lead after two kills and two errors from the Blossoms. UAM soon found the momentum to take the lead,15-14. Still leading, the Blossoms saw the Tigers cut the advantage to just one point, 21-20. Looking to win Blossoms held the Tigers to three points to close out the set with a 25-23 win, and lead the match 1-0.
Set 2
The Blossoms tried to carry their winning momentum from set one to set two but quickly saw themselves down, 2-6, to the Tigers early. UAM began climbing the board, OUA prevented what seemed to be a steady increase, keeping the Blossoms at a 10-point disadvantage, 21-11, after taking an 8-0 run. The fightback from the Blossoms did not yield much as the Tigers took the set 25-14, tying the match 1-1.
Set 3
Down in set. 6-3, the Blossoms began pulling the claws of the Tigers out of their jerseys, to tie 9-9. OUA did not budge and maintained the lead by pulling ahead with six unanswered, 14-9. With another 5-0 run, the Tigers took a 10-point lead at 19-9. The Blossoms would score four more times, with Ouachita Baptist taking the set 25-13, and leading in the match 2-1.
Set 4
Arkansas-Monticello needed to force a set five with a win, but they saw a 4-0 Tigers lead early. The Blossoms brought the scoreboard within two, 4-6, but costly errors from the UAM defense gave OUA enough points to take the lead by seven, 13-6. The Blossoms being down on points, started to rally bringing the set to, 12-21, however, the rally would fail to produce more points. OUA would take the final set 25-12, and the match 3-1.
Junior Setter Mia Smalls assisted in the night with 18 attacks.
Sophomore Jordan Wehr led the Blossoms with 17 digs on the night.
Outside hitter Isneydey De La Rosa led the night in kills with 10. Michayla Black followed with 8.
