RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – After two non-conference matches, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns return to Great American Conference play on Thursday in Arkadelphia. Tech will take on the Henderson State Reddies at 6 p.m. in Duke Wells Center.
 
Arkansas Tech (17-10, 7-4 GAC) is currently tied with Henderson for fourth in the GAC volleyball standings. The Golden Suns have dropped their previous three conference matches, including back-to-back five set losses against top-ranked Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Nazarene.
 
The Reddies (12-11, 7-4 GAC) have won four of their last five GAC matches, including a 3-1 win over Northwestern Oklahoma last Saturday. Henderson also defeated Tech, 3-1, in Russellville earlier this season. In that match, Tech's Hunter Eshnaur recorded a team-high 16 kills, but the Golden Suns hit just .117 as a team, while the Reddies hit .147. Courtney Bolf and Sharon Tukuaoga led Henderson with 16 kills each, and Sydney Skelton added a match-high 24 digs.
 
In conference matches only this season, Eshnaur ranks second in the GAC with 3.97 kills per set. Eshnaur is also seventh in the conference with a .296 hitting percentage. Lauren Rodemers leads the Golden Suns with 1.05 blocks per set in conference matches, good for third in the GAC. HSU's Tukuaoga sits in second in the GAC with 4.11 kills per set in GAC matches only, while Skelton averages 5.78 digs per set, third best in the conference.
 
As a team, the Reddies are hitting .180 for the season, and Tech has posted a .225 hitting percentage. The Golden Suns have also limited their opponents to hit just .153, while Henderson's opponents are hitting .189. Defensively, Tech averages 16.1 digs and 1.6 blocks per set. The Reddies are averaging 15.4 digs and 1.8 blocks per set.
 
Tech has won the first set in 16 of 27 matches. The Golden Suns are also 18-9 in the third set. Henderson has allowed its opponents to win the first set in 12 of 23 matches. The Reddies have, however, won 14 of 23 second sets.
 
Live stats and video for the Thursday night match will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.