RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — After numerous tests to start the season — from both conference foes and nonconference teams alike — the Arkansas Tech women's volleyball team will now focus its attention on defending its Great American Conference crown, beginning Tuesday evening with rival Harding.

The Golden Suns (7-5, 1-0 GAC) welcome the Bisons (4-8, 1-0 GAC) to Tucker Coliseum for a 6 p.m. matchup for Pack the Stands Night, with free admission to the contest.

Both Tech and Harding are coming off a tough weekend of competition in Russellville, where they competed in the GAC/MIAA Crossover against some of the best teams in the country.  The Suns fell 3-0 to No. 7 Washburn before giving No. 6 Central Missouri just about all it could handle before falling 3-1, and ended the weekend with a sweep of Pittsburg State. The Bisons were swept by both UCM and Washburn before taking down Pitt State. Prior to last weekend, both sides got off to good starts in GAC play, with Tech earning a tough five-set win on the road over Southern Arkansas and Harding dispatching Henderson State in three games.

Freshmen Sarita Stegall and Hunter Eshnaur were both named to the all-tournament team last weekend after solid showings. Stegall dished out 109 assists over the three matches and added 34 digs to help her earn GAC Setter of the Week honors, and this came after providing 57 assists against SAU. Eshnaur hit .342 with 19 kills and 13 digs against the Muleriders, and added 36 kills over the three weekend matches. She continues to lead the Suns with 3.60 kills per set and is third with 2.30 digs.

Sophomore libero Madison Nagel turned in four straight 20-dig performances last week, and sits third in the conference with 5.40 per set. Senior Katie Huff upped her hitter percentage to a team-high .271 after hitting .429 with a season-high 15 kills at SAU and .524 with 12 kills against Pitt State. She has also increased her blocks per set to 1.07, which is second in the league. She put up 19 blocks over the four matches last week, including eight total and four solo against Central Missouri.

As a team, the Golden Suns are leading the GAC in assists per set and kills per set, and sits in third with a .198 hitting percentage. Their 1.87 blocks and 16.58 digs per set are both second in the conference. Harding is the only team in the league with more blocks, averaging 2.34 per set, and sits right behind Tech with a .187 hitting percentage.

The Bisons are led up front by Molly Howard and Zoe Hardin, who were both selected to the all-tournament team last weekend. Howard leads the team with 3.53 kills per set and is second on the team with 2.93 digs per set. Hardin is putting up 1.32 blocks per set to lead the team, and is also tops with a .303 hitting percentage and second with 2.50 kills per set. Sara Smith adds 2.27 kills and 0.78 blocks.

Setter Abigail Glosup tallies 9.48 assists and is third on the team with 2.64 digs per set, while also adding 14 aces on the season. Anna Leigh Cargile leads the team with 3.84 digs per set, and Madison Poen adds 2.64.

Harding leads the all-time series against the Suns 37-30, but Tech has won four straight and nine of the last 14 in the series, and leads 7-5 since beginning GAC play.

Live video and statistics for the match will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.