The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women’s volleyball team held off the University of Arkansas at Monticello in two close sets out of the first three and outlasted the Cotton Blossoms in the fourth to earn its first win of the season Tuesday night at Monticello’s Steelman Fieldhouse.
Division I UAPB won 25-23, 20-25, 27-25, 25-14 over Division II UAM, which had seen a 4-match win streak come to an end. UAPB (1-10) has won its third straight meeting over UAM (4-4) in a rivalry dating back to 2005.
Zykia Jones collected 15 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks and 21 digs to lead the Lady Lions to victory. Amayah Jones had 11 kills and 3 aces, Laila Fortson totaled 10 kills and Lyla Jones made 22 assists in the win. Mackenzie McDowell and Anaiah Jordan each made 19 digs.
Senior Mia Smalls moved into the top five all-time in UAM history for career assists. She totaled 26 against UAPB to give her 1,334 for her career.
Natalie White led the Blossoms with 15 digs, Valeria Velez collected 11 digs and 6 kills, Abrielle Jordan had 5 blocks and 9 kills, Maelie Cooke totaled 25 digs and Jordan Wehr had 20 digs in the loss.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB came back from small deficits in the first and third sets to clinch those and led UAM 20-7 in the fourth set before the Blossoms could muster a final rally. A service error by the Blossoms sealed the match for the Lions.
UAPB will head to New Orleans for the Tulane/New Orleans Invitational, starting Friday with a 7 p.m. match against the University of New Orleans. The Lions on Saturday will face California-Riverside, at 10 a.m., then Tulane at 3 p.m. The Lions’ next home match, Sept. 29 against Alabama State, will begin SWAC play.
The Blossoms will remain home to face William Jewell College of Missouri at 10 a.m. Friday and Union University of Tennessee at 4 p.m. that day. UAM will begin Great American Conference play Sept. 24 at home against Arkansas Tech.