ROLLA, Mo. – The Auburn Montgomery volleyball team earned a 3-2 victory over Arkansas Tech on Saturday morning to become the first program in school history to win a contest as full members of the NCAA Division II before dropping a 3-0 decision against Arkansas-Fort Smith to close out the Miner Invitational hosted by Missouri S&T.
 
NOTES
- The Warhawks win their first match of the season by the final of 26-24, 15-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-12.
- AUM dropped the second match 27-25, 25-19, 25-19.
- The Orange & Black achieved full NCAA II membership over the summer with the official change coming on Sept. 1, 2019.
- AUM is now 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in neutral site matches.
 
QUOTING THE COACH
"We were mentally and physically tough during our first match today which unfortunately did not happen in the second," said head coach Flavia Siqueira. "I hope our players can understand now the things we need to continue to work on and must improve in order to compete at the Division II level."
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Senior outside hitter Sommer Rhea tallied26 kills and 30 digs on the day, recording a season-high 17 digs against Tech.
- Sophomore setter Isadora Nicolai tallied a season-high 68 assists over the two matches with 18 digs and four service aces.
- Freshman outside hitter Giada Pais-Marden recorded a career-high 10 kills against Tech, adding seven more against Fort Smith.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)
- The Golden Flashes took the early advantage in the first set, running out to a 12-6 lead. The two teams traded points back and forth until Tech was able to push their advantage to 19-11. The Golden Flashes got to set point at 24-17 before AUM went on a 9-0 run to take the first frame 26-24 on a kill by Nyah Whittlesey.
- Tech was all business in the second set, jumping out to a 15-6 lead. The two teams would trade side outs back and forth the rest of the way, with Tech eventually earning the 25-15 victory.
- The Warhawks ran out to a 9-0 lead in the third set, eventually going up 15-4. Tech would score four out the next five points to pull to within 16-8 but the Orange & Black would close out the frame on a 9-5 run to take the set 25-13 on an Ariadne Borges kill.
- The fourth set the Golden Flashes go on a 7-1 run to push a 15-7 advantage before AUM was able to reel off five straight points. Tech would then go up 19-14 before a 4-0 run by the Orange & Black made the contest 19-18. Tech then posted a 6-2 run to take the fourth set 25-20.
- Set No. 5 saw AUM rush out to a 6-1 advantage, capped off by a block by Borges and Nicolai. The two teams then traded points back and forth until Tech pulled to within three points at 12-9. Once again the teams traded side outs until Borges was able to put down a kill from her middle spot to end the contest in favor of the Orange & Black.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME ONE)
- AUM hit for a .187 average while ATU hit .174.
- The Warhawks logged 73 digs to only 49 for the Golden Flashes.
- AUM tallied 50 kills to 34 by Tech.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)
- The first set was a game of runs until AUM pushed a 16-11 advantage. The Warhawks then went up 22-19 on a kill by Rhea and looked to have the first set victory in their sights. However, a 5-2 run by the Lions tied the contest at 24-24 but a kill by Pais-Marden gave AUM set point at 25-24. The Lions would fight off the set point, going on a 3-0 run to claim the frame 27-25.
- In the second set the Lions jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Whittlesey got the Warhawks on the board with a kill. The teams traded points until a kill by Borges cut the deficit to 17-12. AFS would then keep AUM at arm's length the rest of the way, outscoring the Warhawks 8-7 over the final 15 points to earn the 25-19 victory.
- Fort Smith started the third set on an 8-2 rally before Whittlesey tallied another kill to give the Warhawks some momentum. However, the two teams traded serves back and forth until Dariona Dash was able to notch a kill to cut the lead to 18-14. The early damage was done, though, and the Lions outscored the Warhawks 7-5 down the stretch to secure the 25-19 set win and the 3-0 match victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE (GAME TWO)
- AFS tallied 44 kills while the Warhawks tallied 43.
- The Lions hit .296 in the match while AUM hit .197.
- Fort Smith recorded 52 digs while the Orange & Black posted 51.
 
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