Conway – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears will step on the court at the Prince Center for the final time this season on Saturday, taking on the Sam Houston State Bearkats in a battle of two of the Southland Conference's top three teams. The Sugar Bears will also use the match to honor a group of five seniors, as Haley Tippett, Savanah Allen, Amanda Dimon, Samantha Anderson, and Kellen Dunn will all be making their final appearance at the Prince.

The group has helped continue the tradition of excellence that fans have come to expect from Central Arkansas Volleyball in their four seasons in the purple and gray, winning 80 matches overall and 45 in Southland Conference play, pushing Central Arkansas' SLC-tournament streak to nine-straight years, making an NCAA Tournament Appearance and picking up UCA's first NCAA set win, and ranking in the top-ten in program history in ten different categories.

"There's so much to say, and it's so hard to say, about this class," said UCA head coach Jeni Jones Chatman. "Every group that has come before them has been special, but this senior class has been phenomenal. They have helped to rebuild what UCA Volleyball has been in the past, and they're just really good people that care about each other, that get it done in the classroom, and get it done on the court."

Tippett, an outside hitter from Roanoke, Texas, has played in 88 matches in her three years in Conway after transferring from Stetson University. Including her freshman campaign she has totaled 1,228 kills and 1,240 digs. Despite spending just three seasons in Conway, she ranks in the top 20 in program history in kills per set (11^th – 2.82), total kills (13^th – 915), digs per set (17^th – 2.99), and total digs (19^th – 968). She has 37 double-doubles during her time at Central Arkansas and is pursuing a degree in Family and Consumer Science.

"I'm really proud of the way that Haley has interacted with her teammates and her coaching staff, and how her whole demeanor is better this season," said Chatman. "I'm so glad that we get to keep her for beach. I'm really proud of how she's managed her game this year, she's done a much better job. In the past it's been that her hitting, her serving, and her passing would all be off, but this year she's been able to be where, if her hitting is off, her serving and passing are still on. I'm really proud of her for managing herself and her game this year."

Allen, a middle blocker from St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada, has seen action in 82 matches during her career, hitting .306 to collect 435 kills and 250 blocks. She ranks in the top 20 in school history in blocks per set (7^th – 0.93), total blocks (11^th – 250), and block assists (12^th – 217). She has tallied double-digit kills 15 times in her career and pulled down at least seven blocks nine times. Allen is pursuing a degree in General Science with a minor in Creative Writing.

"There are very few athletes in the country, let alone the Southland Conference, that have the athletic ability that Savanah has," said Chatman. "She jumps fast, and has a very quick arm swing. It's take her some time to understand the abilities that she has and what she can do with them. She's come on at some big times for us when we've needed a big swing, and she's gotten it for us. It's been awesome to see her evolution, and to see her get to a point where she's bought in to herself and what she's able to do."

Dimon, a defensive specialist from Tyler, Texas, has seen action in 106 matches in her career and has turned in 965 digs and 86 service aces. She enters the match against Sam Houston State with the best reception percentage in program history (.956), and ranks in the top 20 in assists per set (17^th – 0.38) and total digs (20^th – 965). She has tallied double-digit digs 45 times and is majoring in Health Science-Physical Therapy.

"When you talk about a kid that truly bleeds purple and gray and would do anything for anybody, that's Amanda Dimon," said Chatman. "Whatever you ask, she's going to give you absolutely everything she's got. She's mischievous, but in her own way she shows a lot of leadership in this program and it's been a pleasure to have her here for four year."

Anderson, a right side from Tyler, Texas has played in 115 matches during her career, collecting 1,408.5 points, 1,218 kills, and 347 blocks. The 2017 Southland Conference Player of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year, she ranks in the top ten in program history in block assists (3^rd – 317), total kills (5^th – 1,218), total blocks(5^th – 347), hitting percentage (6^th - .288), points (6^th - 1408.5), kills per set (8^th – 3.02), attempts (8^th – 2,843), and blocks per set (9^th – 0.86). She has tallied double-digit kills in 63 matches. Anderson is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in History.

"I'm really proud of Sam's evolution this year," said Chatman. "She's turned a corner in the last half of the season and has gone back to relaxing and just playing, and is just having so much fun playing. Over a four-year period, she's found a balance for herself, with volleyball, religion, and academics, and she's excelling in all of those areas."

Dunn, an outside hitter from Austin, Texas,has played in 98 matches over the last four years, tallying 503 kills and 210 digs. She ranks 35^th in program history in kills and 40^th in points per set (1.99), while also ranking in the top 40 in program history in attack attempts (34^th – 1,550), kills per set (38^th – 1.81), and attack percentage (39^th - .169). Dunn has collected double-digit kills in 17 matches and is majoring in General Science with a minor in Family and Consumer Science.

"Kellen has had a great senior year," said Chatman. "When you think about a player's career, obviously you want them to get better from year to year, but you really want their senior year to be that culmination of everything. To see Kellen do what she's done this year has been incredible. We always knew that that what in her, but this year she's made the decision to use it. She's come up big time for us, whether in the moment that we need it, or for entire matches, and she's been a consistent piece of the puzzle this year. She brings a lot of laughter to the gym every day with who she is."