SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — Southwestern will look to build on the momentum of Friday's sweep when it returns to action Saturday for two matches at the Siloam Springs Tournament. The Moundbuilders face host John Brown in the afternoon after opening the day against Texas A&M–Texarkana.

Southwestern (1–1) opened the season with a 3–1 loss to Paul Quinn before responding with a straight-sets victory over Philander Smith. The attack found its rhythm in the second match, hitting .262 as a team and spreading the offense across multiple contributors.

Mikki Johnson has been the offensive anchor through two matches, recording 23 kills and 14 digs against Paul Quinn before adding seven kills and three aces in the win over Philander Smith. Freshman hitter Macey Collier made an immediate impact with nine kills on .818 hitting to go with two aces, while Autumn Bennett chipped in 11 kills at a .529 clip to fuel the sweep. Setter Reece Likes has been steady, handing out 40 assists across the two matches.

Defensively, libero Avery Riedel has paced the back row with 18 digs over two contests, and the blocking tandem of Haylie Poole and Haleigh Weber has provided timely stops at the net.

Saturday's opener against John Brown offers Southwestern a chance to test itself against a Sooner Athletic Conference program on its home court. Consistency in serve-receive and limiting unforced errors — particularly the 36 attack miscues that plagued them against Paul Quinn — will be key against the Golden Eagles.

The nightcap against Texas A&M–Texarkana presents another challenge. The Eagles swept John Brown on opening day, hitting above .300 and showcasing balance across the front line. For Southwestern, aggressive serving and sustained pressure at the net will be critical to slowing Texarkana's tempo.

For the Builders, the second day of the tournament provides both a measuring stick and an opportunity to establish momentum in the early stretch of the 2025 season.

First serve against Texarkana is scheduled for Saturday at 10 AM.