RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Volleyball team knocks off East Central (21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-17) in Tucker to reclaim sole possession of the top spot in the GAC. Both teams entered the match with an 8-1 conference record and were tied for the first overall spot. With the win over East Central, Arkansas Tech will return to the postseason as they have secured their spot in the Great American Conference Tournament.
The Tigers move to 12-10 overall on the season with an 8-2 record in conference play, while the Golden Suns advance to 15-4 overall and 9-1 in GAC matches.
Leading the offense with her third double-double of the season was senior outside hitter Tymber Riley with 17 kills and 10 digs. Riley also surpassed 200 kills on the season pushing her total to 215. Following Riley were senior middle blocker Emily Ragsdale and junior outside hitter Kaitlynn Bradley each with 12 kills. Bradley hit an impressive .440 clip on the night and her 12 kills set a new season-high. Senior right-side hitter Haylee Paladini was the fourth member of the Golden Suns to have double figures in kills with 11.
Pacing the Golden Sun offense was junior setter Brianna Merkel with 39 assists. Merkel also had a solid night on the defensive end as well with 11 kills and 2 blocks.
Leading the Golden Sun defense was senior libero Madison Grantham with 13 digs. Megan Solberg was the fourth member of Arkansas Tech to notch double figures in digs with 11. Leading the blocking effort was Bradley and Paladini each with 5 total blocks. Paladini's 5 blocks set a new season-high. Ragsdale also had a strong contribution with 4 blocks on the night.
East Central started strong out of the gate winning the first set 21-25.
Arkansas Tech followed by having the strong start in the second set pulling out to an early 11-3 lead following a kill from Ragsdale. Two kills by Bradley and one from both Paladini and Riley continued the offensive attack for Tech leading 17-12. A kill from Riley and a few errors by East Central made it 24-17. East Central tried to climb their way back up making it 24-21 down the stretch. A kill from Riley would finish the set with a win for Tech tying the match at one set win apiece.
The third set started close as both sides couldn't quite edge out the other. However, a 5-0 run by the Golden Suns that included a trio of kills from Paladini, Abby Simpson and Merkel as well as two aces from Solberg put them on top 13-7. Tech continued to hold the lead down the stretch as a kill from Ragsdale made it a 21-17 lead. A kill from Paladini would secure the 25-20 third set win for Tech and give them a 2-1 lead in the match.
In the fourth and final set, the Golden Suns would get off to another quick start leading 5-0. A couple of errors by Tech would let East Central tie it up at 8-8. The Golden Suns found another 5-0 run in them fueled by two kills from Ragsdale, an ace from Solberg and two errors made by the Tigers to hold a 13-8 lead. Costly errors continued to hurt East Central allowing Tech to take an 18-11 lead. Tech would close the set with two kills from Paladini and one final kill from Ragsdale to take the 25-17 set win and win the match 3-1.
The Golden Suns will face their second match of the back-to-back tomorrow afternoon against Southeastern Oklahoma. The match is set to begin at noon in Tucker Coliseum.
