Henderson State defeated the UAM Cotton Blossoms in a four-game decision in match play Oct. 10. The 3-1 loss puts UAM (4-4) in third place and puts HSU (5-3) in second place in the conference as play continues. 

   Four Cotton Blossoms posted double digit kills in the match loss. Seniors, Amanda Sayre of Del City, Okla., and Katherine Taju of Panama City, Panama, each had 15 kills followed by Kameshia Melton of Grapevine, Texas, who hit 13 and first-year student Nicole Ferguson of Brentwood, Tenn. who hit 10. Maegan Martin, sophomore from Burnet, Texas, assisted 49 of the 58 total kills.  

   The Cotton Blossoms were down as mush as six points in the first game, but managed to fight back to knot the score at 28 before eventually falling to the Lady Reddies, 32-20. In the second game, there was no more than a three point difference in the entire game, and the Cotton Blossoms went on to claim the victory. 

   In game three, the Cotton Blossoms opened the game with a four point run only to let the Lady Reddies come from behind to steal the game. In the fourth and final game, UAM opened with a 6-1 score, HSU capped that with a six-score run. UAM would tie the game at 13 before losing the game and the series to HSU, 30-23.  

   The Lady Reddies, who continually play a roster which involves no seniors, were led by junior Rose Euppah's match high 21 kills, and junior Edith Musebe's nine blocks. HSU had an attack percentage of .173 and a total of 12 team blocks.  

   The Cotton Blossoms will host conference leaders, the Harding Lady Bisons on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Steelman Fieldhouse. Harding is undefeated in conference play but was just recently swept by East Division conference member, the University of North Alabama. 
     
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