MONTICELLO, Ark. – Behind 17 kills from Hunter Eshnaur and 10 kills from Lauren Rodemers, Arkansas Tech volleyball defeated the University of Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms, 3-0, on Thursday. The Golden Suns stole a 28-26 win in set one before winning the next two, 25-20 and 25-22, respectively.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Arkansas Tech (9-7, 4-1 GAC) started the match with a 5-1 run and later jumped out to an 18-6 lead. After a UAM timeout, however, the Blossoms began a slow comeback before an 8-1 run tied the set at 24-24.
• Arkansas-Monticello (3-12, 1-4 GAC) grabbed its first lead since the very first point of the match when a kill put the Blossoms ahead, 26-25. Amanda Milnick then tied the set with a kill, and Rodemers later followed with a kill to give the set to Tech.
• Tech's offense exploded in the second set, tallying 14 kills and just four errors to hit .323. Eshnaur led all players with six kills and no errors in the set.
• In the final set, Arkansas-Monticello took the early lead with five consecutive points. Tech immediately answered, though, with a 12-2 run to take a five-point lead.
• The Blossoms cut the deficit to two points on five separate occasions but could not tie or take the lead, as Tech held UAM to a match-low .167 attack percentage in the third set to take the match.

 
NOTABLES

• The Golden Suns have held their conference opponents to hit under .200 in all four matches this season.
• Eshnaur tied a season-high with 17 kills in the victory. She hit .351 to give her an attack percentage of at least .350 in three of the last four matches.
• Rodemers reached double figures in kills for the fourth time this season, while also posting a match-high .474 hitting percentage. She added a team-high five total blocks.
• Sarah Rosinke led Tech with 19 assists, followed by Milnick with 16. Madison Nagel led all players with 14 digs.
• Arkansas Tech has not lost back-to-back conference matches since 2007.

 
NEXT UP

• Arkansas Tech will take a break from the Great American Conference to take on three consecutive non-conference opponents. For their next match, the Golden Suns host St. Edward's on Friday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. in Tucker Coliseum.
• The Golden Suns then welcome Philander Smith and Williams Baptist to Tucker Coliseum, both matches scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4.