ARKANSAS TECH vs. SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE MATCH NOTES
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – No. 8 Arkansas Tech will make its fifth appearance in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament since 2000 on Thursday, Nov. 30, as the Golden Suns take on No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. The first-round match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the PE Gym.
Arkansas Tech (35-0) is the eighth seed in the Central Region Championships, after finishing the regular season undefeated for the first time in program history. The Suns are one of just two remaining undefeated teams in Division II. Tech is coming off a five-set victory over Harding on Nov. 18 in the Great American Conference Tournament championship. The Golden Suns rallied from a 10-7 deficit to a 15-11 win in the final set to win their fourth conference tournament since 2011. Tech is 1-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
Top-seeded Southwest Minnesota State (28-3) hosts the Central Region Championships after finishing second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Mustangs won the NSIC Tournament after defeating No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul in three sets on Nov. 19. SMSU will be making its 14th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the Mustangs have an all-time record of 16-14.
Tech and SMSU have produced two of the best offenses in the country this season. Both teams rank in the top three in Division II in hitting percentage, while the Golden Suns and Mustangs both rank in the top 10 in Division II in kills per set and assists per set. Tech's defense has also been stellar, though, as the Suns are 10th in Division II in opponent hitting, while SMSU ranks 120th.
All-Region First Team selection Amanda Milnick leads Arkansas Tech with 10.78 assists per set, and her three triple-doubles this season are tied for 10th most in Division II. All-Region Second Team selection Lexie Johnston paces the GAC and is seventh in Division II in hitting percentage. Johnston, Hunter Eshnaur, Allie Anderson and Tabitha Spray each average over 2.70 kills per set, and Greer Rogers ranks 46th in Division II in blocks per set.
Southwest Minnesota State is led by Central Region Player of the Year Taylor Reiss. Reiss ranks third in Division II with 5.16 kills per set while hitting .309 this season. Megan Larson is third in Division II in assists per set.
Live video and statistics for the NCAA Tournament match are available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
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