Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the fifth consecutive season, and 11th time over the past 12 seasons, Arkansas Tech opened volleyball season with a victory. The Golden Suns earned a 3-1 win over the St. Joseph's College Pumas on Friday, in their first game of the Christian Brothers Invitational. Tech followed with a second win on the same day, defeating the Barton College Lady Bulldogs, 3-2, to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

ARKANSAS TECH vs. ST. JOSEPH'S - HOW IT HAPPENED

• St. Joseph's took the first set, 25-18, after forcing 10 attack errors by Tech. 
• Hunter Eshnaur recorded three kills, three service aces and two blocks to lead the Golden Suns to a 25-18 win in set two to tie the match.
• Arkansas Tech took the third set, 25-16. Stellar defensive play by the Golden Suns limited the Pumas to just four kills and a team attack percentage of .071.
• Led by Amanda Milnick's five kills, Tech hit .324 with a match-low four attack errors to take a 2-1 lead.
• Tech never trailed in the final set, and a 5-1 run to end the set gave the Golden Suns a 25-17 win to claim the match.

NOTABLES

• Arkansas Tech improved its offense on every set, finishing with a match-high 18 kills and .382 hitting percentage in the fourth game. 
• Eshnaur posted a match-high 12 kills, as well as 13 digs, to earn her first double-double of her season.
• McCall Wilkins added a 10-kill performance.
• Madison Nagel led all players with 16 digs, and Matti Dix followed with 13.
• Milnick finished two kills and one dig shy of a triple-double, but recorded a match-high 26 assists. 

BARTON vs. ARKANSAS TECH - HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tech jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead in the match after defeating Barton, 25-18 and 27-25, in sets one and two. 
• The Bulldogs answered with two set-wins of the their own, taking the third game, 27-25, and the fourth, 25-15.
• The fifth and final set featured seven ties and five lead changes. Down 12-10, the Golden Suns rallied to score four consecutive points to take a 14-12 lead.
• After a Barton timeout, the Bulldogs cut the deficit to one point, but a kill by Eshnaur gave Tech the 15-13 edge and the 3-2 match win.

NOTABLES

• Arkansas Tech struggled offensively against Barton, hitting just .125 in the win. The Golden Suns had three less attack errors, however, as well as five less service errors.
• Eshnaur recorded a team-high 15 kills. She added 13 digs on her way to the 16th double-double of her career. 
• Nagel led Tech's defense with 20 digs, while Dix added 11.
• Wilkins finished in the double-digits in kills again with 11 on the match.
• Milnick and Sarah Rosinke combined for 38 assists.
• Lauren Rodemers led all players with six total blocks.

NEXT UP 

• The Golden Suns continue play in the Christian Brothers Invitational on Saturday, with a contest against Texas A&M-Kingsville at 2:45 p.m. Tech then finishes the tournament with a 7:30 p.m. match against Christian Brothers. Live statistics will be available for both games, and live video will be available for the second match. Links can be found at www.arkansastechsports.com.