UAFS won its 10^th-consecutive home opener of its NCAA Division II era on Tuesday night as the Lady Lions volleyball team swept the University of Arkansas-Monticello Blossoms at the Stubblefield Center.

The Lady Lions (4-1) won the match 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 and improved to 4-0 all-time against the Blossoms (1-4), who were swept for the second time in the series.

UAFS also improved to 16-2 all-time against in-state opponents during its NCAA Division II era – UAM (4-0), Harding (6-2), Southern Arkansas (3-0), John Brown (1-0), Arkansas Tech (1-0) and Henderson State (1-0).

It was the first of nine regular-season home matches for the Lady Lions, who have won 10-consecutive, regular-season home matches. The Lady Lions' last regular-season home loss was a 3-0 loss to West Florida on Sept. 16 last season in the final match of the Carr Racop Invitational.

UAFS was coming off a 3-1 performance in this past weekend's Kathleen Brasfield Invitational at the Junell Center in San Angelo, Texas. The Lady Lions began invitational play with three-consecutive sweeps of East Central, Texas A&M-Kingsville and New Mexico Highlands before losing to host Angelo State in three sets in the final match of the invitational.

The Lady Lions held the Blossoms to a paltry 0.087 hitting percentage, allowing only 33 kills on 115 attempts and forcing 23 errors. UAFS also collected seven total team blocks with senior middle hitter Debra Rogers accounting for two solo blocks and four assists. Freshman libero Pilar Onstad had 17 of the Lady Lions' 51 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Lexi Castillow had 11.

No Blossoms player had double-digit kills. Junior outside hitter Megan Orth and senior middle hitter Laurene Cushinberry each had seven kills. Senior setter Shayna Daniels had 21 assists and served all three of the Blossoms' aces.

UAFS hit at a 0.220 clip with 38 kills on 109 attempts with 14 errors. Junior outside hitter Anna Demmer led a balanced UAFS offense with 10 kills. Sophomore setter Laryssa Correa had 16 assists, and freshman setter Taylor Stoops, who was this week's Heartland Conference Setter of the Week, had 15 assists.

Sophomore right-side hitter Erin Black and Castillow each served two of the Lady Lions' six aces.

UAM had only three total team blocks. Junior right-side hitter MarKayla Dickie had three assists to lead the Blossoms. Junior libero Jessica Mahan had 20 of the Blossoms' 51 digs.

​​​​​​​UAFS will return to action on Friday when the Lady Lions compete in the Dixie State/Desert Garden Inn by Wyndham Volleyball Classic at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah. UAFS will play Western New Mexico at 10 a.m. and Adams State at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and will play No. 18 Tarleton State at 3 p.m. and host Dixie State at 8 p.m. on Saturday.