RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Behind a .385 hitting percentage, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns defeated the East Central Tigers, 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-20), on Saturday. Hunter Eshnaur finished with 14 kills and a career-high hitting percentage of .560.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• East Central (5-14, 3-4 GAC) held an early advantage in the first set, but a 13-2 run put the Golden Suns ahead, 22-14. Tech then took the set behind five kills from Eshnaur and eight digs from Madison Nagel.
• Tech (14-7, 6-1 GAC) dominated the second set from the very start, opening the game with an 8-0 run. The Golden Suns later ended the set on an 8-1 run, taking a 2-0 lead.
• Lauren Rodemers took charge in the second game, picking up five kills on five attempts. She also added three total blocks and helped limit East Central to hit just .031.
• The Tigers finally found success on offense in the final set, hitting .344 with just two attack errors. The Golden Suns took the set, however, with a .375 attack percentage and 18 kills. Eshnaur and Kaylee Konsella led all players with five kills each and no attack errors in the game.

NOTABLES

• The Golden Suns posted their highest attack percentage in a Great American Conference contest since Nov. 3, 2015, when Tech hit .419 in a win over Arkansas-Monticello. Arkansas Tech's six attack errors in Saturday's victory are also the fewest in a match since last year's win over UAM.
• Tech has limited its past nine opponents to hit .200 or less.
• Eshnaur led all players with 14 kills and no hitting errors in the match, her 18^th match with at least 10 kills in 20 matches this season.
• Konsella also added a career-high attack percentage, recording nine kills on 12 attempts to hit .750.
• Sarah Rosinke finished with a team-high 18 assists, followed by Amanda Milnick with 15.
• Nagel led the Golden Suns in digs for the 20^th time this season, tallying 15.
• With the victory, the Golden Suns move into a tie for first in the GAC with Oklahoma Baptist. Tech has won its past six matches, all six coming in three sets. 

COACH BAYER SAYS

• "We had a really, really sharp weekend. Offensively, we really clicked. Our setters, Amanda Milnick and Sarah Rosinke did a great job running our offense. Our offense was evenly distributed, and they knew who to feed and when to feed them."
• "I thought we played really well together as a team. Our communication was there. We had really strong defensive movements. Obviously, our offense did a great job, but we cannot get to our offense unless we have that good first contact. I thought we did a really good job, defensively."

NEXT UP

• Tech will be on the road for its next two contests, as the Golden Suns travel to Alva, Okla. to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. Tech will then make the trip to Weatherford for a match at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, with Southwestern Oklahoma State.