ARKADELPHIA – Sophomore Kayla Steinmeyer racked up 23 kills to lead the Ouachita Baptist University volleyball team to a 3-2 win over Arkansas-Monticello at home on Thursday night.

It was Ouachita's first Great American Conference win of the year, improving the Tigers to 5-9 overall and 1-2 in GAC matches. The Blossoms fall to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in GAC play. Final scores of Thursday's win were 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 30-32, and 16-14.

All but one set of Thursday's match was back-and-forth. In Ouachita's commanding second-set victory, the Tigers used a 5-0 run midway through the set to get up 19-10. The Blossoms answered, but the damage had already been done, resulting a 1-1 match at the end of two sets.

The Blossoms led early in the third set with a 5-0 run to go up 7-2. Ouachita hung with UAM and later used a 5-0 run of its own in the final rallie of the set to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

UAM again got up big in the fourth set with a pair of 5-0 runs that led to a 15-8 lead for the Blossoms, but the Tigers responded with a 6-0 run to climb back in. UAM used four attack errors from Ouachita late in the rally to force a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set also needed extra points to decide a winner, and it was Steinmeyer that sealed it for Ouachita with a pair of kills at the end.

In addition to Steinmeyer's 23 kills, Emily Low had a big match with 12 kills and eight total blocks. EJ Day added a double-double of 15 kills and 18 digs. Brooke Jones turned in a career performance with eight kills. Karlie Bonam also had a career-high night with a total of 9.5 points, most of which coming on defense with six total blocks.

Kellen Church turned in a season-high 34 assists, her third 30-plus assists performance of the year, while also reaching double-digits in digs with 10. Temi Fayiga also had a double-double in the win with 19 assists and 15 digs. Lexie Castillow led the back row with 35 digs, her third 30-plus digs match of the year.

The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday, September 28 at home against Arkansas Tech. First serve is 6 p.m. at the Sturgis Center.