RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - No. 19 Arkansas Tech moved to 18-0 on the season with a three-set victory over Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday. The win also keeps the Golden Suns in first place in the Great American Conference with a 5-0 record.

UP NEXT

• Arkansas Tech (18-0, 5-0 GAC) is on the road for its next two contests. The Suns travel to Ada, Okla. for a 7 p.m. match against East Central on Friday, Oct. 6, before taking on Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Arkansas Tech used a balance attack on offense to take control of the match early. The Golden Suns took the first set, 25-16, after posting a .344 attack percentage with a match-low two attack errors. 
• Hunter Eshnaur, Greer Rogers and Allie Anderson each recorded three kills in the first set, while Eshnaur led all players with six digs. 
• Arkansas-Monticello (6-10, 1-4 GAC) never led in the second set, as the Suns started the game on a 4-0 run. Tech used an 8-1 run later in the set to take a 16-5 lead, before eventually taking a 2-0 lead in the match with a kill by Anderson.
• The Golden Suns defense dominated in the second set, as Tech held UAM to hit -.081 with a match-high nine attack errors. Amanda Milnick led the way with nine digs in the game, followed by Madison Nagel with six. 
• In the final set, Arkansas Tech controlled both sides of the ball, hitting .500 as a team with 17 kills, while also limiting the Cotton Blossoms to a .057 hitting percentage. Lexie Johnston tallied five kills on five attacks in the game.
• For the match, Arkansas Tech hit .375 as a team, the second highest total in a conference match this season. Six different Golden Suns recorded at least six kills in the win, as Anderson led with a team-high 11 kills, followed by Eshnaur with eight. Johnston, Milnick, Rogers and Tabitha Spray each finished with six kills. 
• Milnick paced the offense with 37 assists, and her 12 digs gives her 15 career double-doubles. Nagel compiled a match-high 17 digs. 

NOTABLES

• With the 18th consecutive win, Arkansas Tech improves on its best start to a season in program history. The Suns are also 5-0 in conference play for the second time in three seasons.
• The Golden Suns hit over .300 as a team for the 10th time this season, and Tech held its opponent to hit under .100 for the 11th time. Arkansas Tech leads the GAC in both hitting percentage and opponent hitting. 
• Tech has won 15 consecutive sets, dating back to a 3-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville on Sept. 16. Arkansas Tech has won 14 of 18 matches, including all five GAC matches, in three sets.

COACH KRISTY BAYER SAYS

• "I am really proud of our girls. We have played great over this first round of Arkansas schools. We knew UAM was going to be a scrappy team. They always play really good defense and are well coached."
• "What I was most proud of was our defense. I thought we hustled defensively. We moved well to the ball. We made some great saves. I think the defense was the highlight of tonight's match."
• "Madison Nagel just hustled so much tonight. She was all over the court. I thought we struggled a little bit blocking tonight, but Madi was back there ready to pick up the slack on defense."