ARKADELPHIA -- The University of Arkansas - Monticello Cotton Blossoms’ woes continued as the Blossoms (14-14, 4-6 GSC) suffered a 3-0 setback Tuesday at the hands of the Ouachita Baptist University Lady Tigers at Vining Arena.

   The Blossoms fell by scores of 30-16, 30-21 and 30-24.

   Amanda Sayre (senior, Del City, Okla.) led the Blossoms with 11 kills. Maegan Martin (sophomore, Burnet, Texas) dished out 21 assists and Amie Kronk (senior, San Antonio, Texas) led UAM with 18 digs, while Katherine Taju (senior, Panama City, Panama) and Sayre both added double-digit digs, with 15 and 13, respectively.

   The Cotton Blossoms return to action Tuesday, Oct. 24, as they travel to Magnolia to face Southern Arkansas. The match begins at 7 p.m.


   BLOSSOMS DROP TWO ON FINAL DAY OF HSU CLASSIC

   ARKADELPHIA -- The Cotton Blossoms’ struggles continued as they dropped a pair of matches on Oct. 12, the final day of the Henderson State Classic, falling 3-1 to Emporia State and 3-2 to Pittsburg State.

   With the second loss, UAM has now lost six consecutive matches.

   In the opener against Emporia, the Blossoms fell 30-19 and 30-24 in the first two games before rallying to pull the match to within 2-1 after a 30-25 win in game three; however, Emporia State clinched the match with a 30-27 victory in game four.

   Kameshia Melton (junior, Grapevine, Texas) led UAM with 17 kills while Taju added 14. Martin dished out 32 assists while Kronk added 23 digs.

   ESU’s Arica Sheppard led all players with 22 kills and a .386 hitting percentage.

   In the finale against Pittsburg State, the Blossoms jumped out to a 2-0 lead after winning 30-28 and 30-27, but PSU tied the match with 30-19 and 30-20 victories in games three and four. In the fifth and decisive game, PSU picked up a 15-13 victory.

   Taju led the Blossoms with 19 kills, while Sayre added 16 and Melton added 14. Martin dished out 60 assists, while Kronk led UAM with 17 digs. Taju (11) and Martin (10) also notched double-digit digs for the Blossoms.


BLOSSOMS DROP TWO AT HSU CLASSIC

   ARKADELPHIA -- The Cotton Blossoms dropped a pair of matches to nationally-ranked teams, falling 3-1 to 12th-ranked Washburn and 3-1 to 25th-ranked Missouri Southern at the Henderson State Classic.

   Washburn (20-4) won the opening game 32-30, but the Blossoms tied the match with a 30-28 game two victory. Washburn closed out the match with 30-26 and 30-28 victories in games three and four.

   Taju led UAM with 30 kills to lead all players, while Sayre added 16 kills and Melton added 13. Martin dished out 63 assists, while Sayre led UAM with 23 digs, Kronk added 22 and both Taju and Sara Kindred (freshman, Frisco, Texas) added 11 in the loss.

   Washburn out hit the Blossoms .225 to .197.

   The Blossoms fell in the nightcap against Missouri Southern (22-6) after losing the opening two games 30-26 and 30-27. UAM pulled to within 2-1 after winning game three 30-25, but Missouri Southern picked up a 30-27 victory in the fourth and decisive game to seal their victory.

   Taju was once again red-hot, leading all players with 27 kills, while Sayre (15) and Melton (13) once again added double-digit kills. Martin dished out a match-best 61 assists, while Kronk led UAM with 24 digs.


BLOSSOMS FALL TO HARDING

   The Cotton Blossoms were unable to overcome a 16-kill effort from Manuela Nesheva and a 11-kill effort from Tiffany Morrison, as they fell 3-0 to the first-place Harding Bisons (18-5, 9-0 GSC) Oct. 12 at Steelman Fieldhouse.

   After falling 30-26 in a close opening game, the Blossoms were slow to get started in the second game, falling 30-15, and then fell 30-24 in the finale.

   Taju notched 14 kills to lead UAM, while Sayre added 11. Martin dished out 23 assists, while Kronk added 14 digs.

   After hitting .240 in the opening game, the Blossoms hit -.088 and .025 in the second and third games.

 
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