Lady Lions top UAM

FORT SMITH — Anna Demmer and senior outside hitter Pulotu Manoa combined for 31 kills to lead Arkansas-Fort Smith to a four-set win against Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday at Steelman Fieldhouse in Monticello.

The Lady Lions won the volleyball match 25-17, 25-27, 2516, 25-15, winning their second match in a row and second in three days.

It was the first match of what will be a three-match road stretch for the Lady Lions (10-5), who will resume Heartland Conference play this week with matches at Dallas Baptist on Thursday and at St. Edward’s next Saturday.

UAFS compiled a 0.201 hitting percentage with 50 kills on 154 attempts with 19 errors. Demmer had a team-high 19 kills, while Manoa had 12 kills. Senior setter Susannah Kelley had a team-high 39 assists, and sophomore defensive specialist Eliza Piccirillo served three of the Lady Lions’ five aces.

The Blossoms collected 77 digs. Senior defensive specialist Macy Mitchell had a team-high 29 digs and was one of three Blossoms with double-digit digs. UAM had five total team blocks with three players accounting for two total blocks apiece.

UAFS held UAM to a 0.085 hitting percentage with 48 kills on 178 attempts with 33 errors. Senior outside hitter Vanessa Pawlak and sophomore outside hitter Maggie Pyles had 17 and 10 kills, respectively, to lead the team. Sophomore setter Kendall Vondra had a teamhigh 24 assists, while freshman setter Toryn Cox had 18.

The Lady Lions collected 84 digs. Junior libero Autumn Reese had 22 digs to lead the Lady Lions. Piccirillo had 16 digs, and Demmer, Pulotu and Kelley had double-doubles with 15, 11 and 10 digs, respectively.