MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Argos (21-7, 13-1 GSC) gained eight more kills and led in almost every team category in an evenly matched contest but were forced into eight more errors and fell to Auburn Montgomery (21-8, 10-4 GSC) for the first time in series history 3-2 (26-24, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-13) on Friday night at the AUM Athletics Complex. The loss is just the third for UWF in its last 104 GSC matches.
 
UWF lost the hitting percentage battle by just .005 percent while taking the categories of points, kills, aces, blocks, assists and digs, but committed more miscues and could not halt the Warhawks' resulting momentum in the odd sets. AUM also started out fast in the first three frames. Indeed, the first set would foreshadow how the match would play out, as the Argonauts rallied from a few early deficits to lead 22-20 and then bring it to set point at 24-21. However, four errors helped AUM string together a 5-0 closing run to surprisingly snatch the 1-0 lead from the visitors. 
 
With the second set beginning similarly with an early AUM push, the Argos' rally would hold up this time around as they flipped a 17-15 host lead with a 4-0 stretch and then scored the last three points with a 22-22 score to tie things up. A 7-1 run in the middle of the third was not enough to equalize the frame, as the hosts closed on a 6-2 stretch. 
 
UWF had learned its lesson, as it started the fourth frame on top with Jenna Zydlo responsible for the first three points on two kills and a block with Alex Oliver before Emily Breazeale tallied two kills. The Warhawks were not down in the least, though, as they ripped off a 6-0 run to take a 12-10 lead. After the teams traded runs and leads, the Argos took over the frame with the last seven points thanks to a kill and solo block by Bailee Sterling, three aces from Annie Monaco, an Oliver kill and a bad set.
 
It seemed the Floridians would make use of the momentum and opportunity when they came up with the first three points with Sterling and Breazeale kills and a block between the pair, but AUM promptly tied it back. Trailing 8-5, the Warhawks took over with the next four points scored through two Maya Thompson kills and two errors. UWF let AUM know it was still alive as it trailed 13-11 because another block from the duo of Sterling and Breazeale and another error tied things up one last time, but the final two went to the opposition. 
 
Zydlo led the offensive attack with 16 kills on a .424 performance and three total blocks. Sterling finished with 10 kills and four blocks. Monaco registered 18 digs and 11 kills for her fourth double-double of the season. She and Lily Sumner each scored three aces. Sumner, Oliver and Breazeale each assisted two blocks. Meg Brackhan put up 23 digs and two aces. Gabi Moulton had a career day with a whopping 49 assists, easily beating out her previous high of 38 at Mississippi College, to go with 18 assists for her fourth double-double. Izabelle Sanchez also had one, her third of 2023, with 10 assists and 10 scoops. 
 
The Argos will have to wait another week to attempt to lock up the top seed in the conference and clinch hosting privileges in the GSC tournament. UWF gets some time to digest the setback before heading to Memphis for its next match on Friday, Nov. 10, at Christian Brothers at 6 pm.
 
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