MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After starting the 2016 season 2-0 with two wins on Friday, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns dropped both Saturday games in the Christian Brothers Invitational, to fall to 2-2. The Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas defeated Tech 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, and the Golden Suns come up just short in a 3-2 loss to the Christian Brothers Lady Bucs in the final match of the tournament. 

TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE vs. ARKANSAS TECH: HOW IT HAPPENED

• A 9-2 run in the first set put the Golden Suns ahead 10-5, but the Javelinas (4-0) answered with a 9-2 run of their own and eventually took the set, 25-22. 
• Despite five kills from Hunter Eshnaur and four kills from Kaylee Konsella in the second set, Kingsville narrowly defeated Tech, 25-23, in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. 
• In the final set, Arkansas Tech hit .353 with just one attack error, and the Golden Suns held the Javelinas to hit just .200, but three more kills by Kingsville proved to be the difference in the 25-22 third set.
• Tech finished the match with a .225 hitting percentage, while Kingsville hit .273 for the match.

NOTABLES

• Eshnaur recorded a match-high 14.5 points in the loss. She led the Golden Suns with 10 kills and four service aces.
• Madison Nagel led all players with 12 digs.
• Sarah Rosinke and Amanda Milnick combined for 30 assists, while Milnick also had five kills and six digs. 
• Konsella led the Golden Suns with a .462 hitting percentage, followed by Wilkins who hit .429.

ARKANSAS TECH vs. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS: HOW IT HAPPENED

• Christian Brothers (4-0) easily took the first set, 25-13, after posted 13 kills and zero attack errors. Tech was held to just nine kills and committed six attack errors.
• The Golden Suns fell behind early in the second set, trailing by as much as seven. A 10-2 run, however, gave Arkansas Tech a 17-15 lead over the Lady Bucs, and Tech eventually took the game, 25-20.
• Tech gained the first lead of the third set, but the Lady Bucs immediately took over with three straight points and held their lead until taking a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-22 win.
• In the fourth set, Arkansas Tech dominated offensively and defensively. The Golden Suns finished the 25-15 victory with 11 kills and just one attack error, and the Lady Bucs were limited to just eight kills and forced into seven attack errors.
• The Golden Suns hit .385 to tie the match, 2-2, while Christian Brothers hit just .031.
• Milnick put Tech ahead 1-0 in the deciding set, but the Lady Bucs later jumped out to a 6-3 lead. After an Arkansas Tech timeout, the Golden Suns tied the score at six, but a 5-1 run put Christian Brothers ahead, 11-7.
• After the run, Tech pulled within one point twice but could not tie or take the lead. Christian Brothers ended the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth set.

NOTABLES

• Nagel finished with a season-high 23 digs, followed by Matti Dix with 17. 
• Eshnaur picked up her third double-double in four games this season, leading Tech with 13 kills and adding 14 digs. 
• Milnick and Rosinke each had 21 assists, and Milnick also posted 10 kills and seven digs.
• Eshnaur and Nagel have led Tech in kills and digs, respectively, in all four matches this season.

NEXT UP

• The Golden Suns return to action on Friday, Sept. 9, in the Bettye Wallace Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark. Tech will take on Drury at 9 a.m. on Friday, followed by a contest with Northern State at 2 p.m. Both games will be a Henderson State.
• On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Golden Suns will be against Lindenwood at 9 a.m. and Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. Both games will be at Ouachita.