HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Volleyball team mounts an incredible comeback in the fifth set to end the two time GAC Tournament defending champions Oklahoma Baptist and win the GAC Tournament 3-2 (25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-10). Following the match, senior libero Madison Grantham and junior setter Brianna Merkel were named to the All-Tournament team, while senior right-side hitter Haylee Paladini was named the GAC Tournament MVP.

Leading the Golden Suns was senior outside hitter Tymber Riley with her eighth double-double of the season with 18 kills and 20 digs. Riley was fourth in the GAC in kills and fifth for points this season. Freshman Abby Simpson had an astounding offensive performance on the big stage with 18 kills. Junior Kaitlynn Bradley was another unstoppable weapon on the attack putting down 17 kills at an amazing .500 clip with only two errors. Paladini was also once again another strong contributor on the Golden Sun attack with 10 kills. Earning a new season high in assists and pacing the offense was junior setter Brianna Merkel with 52 assists. Merkel also added 5 kills, 1 block and 14 digs.

Senior libero Madison Grantham was once again the anchor on the defensive end of the floor with 18 digs. Grantham has also moved up to third place on the all-time dig list for Arkansas Tech. The senior libero also notched a service ace and 7 assists in the contest. The Golden Suns finished the season as the best team in the GAC in service aces. Freshman Jamie Myrick also had a great defensive match with 16 digs, while junior Megan Solberg picked up 10 digs. Holding down the front of the net was Bradley with 4 blocks in the match. Paladini was also a strong force down front with 3 blocks and senior middle blocker Emily Ragsdale added 2 blocks. Arkansas Tech finished the season third in the GAC in blocks.

The Golden Suns started the opening set strong holding a 15-8 lead over the Bison early. A 5-0 run by Oklahoma Baptist capped off by a kill from Avery Hellmuth tied it up at 18-18. Both teams proceeded to trade points and would once again find themselves tied at 21-21. A kill from junior outside hitter Kaitlynn Bradley and two from Paladini would give Tech a 24-21 lead to set up the set point. A kill from Diana Carranza and Audrey Poupard would pull the Bison within one at 24-23. The Golden Suns finished the set off thanks to an error by the Bison to take a 1-0 set lead.

The second set saw the Bison jump out to a quick 15-9 lead over the Golden Suns. A kill from senior outside hitter Tymber Riley would make it a 13-18 lead for Oklahoma Baptist. The Bison would close out the second set strong with a kill from Malia Leatherland to tie it up 1-1.

Neither side could jump out to a sizable lead to start the third set with both teams trading points. A kill by Leatherland and one from Taneyah Brown would give the Bison some breathing room holding a 14-11 lead. A 4-0 run by Oklahoma Baptist extended their lead over Tech to make it 18-12. It looked like Tech might be down and out, until they closed the entire set on an astounding 13-4 run capped off by a kill from Paladini and freshman outside hitter Abby Simpson as well as an ace from Merkel to storm back and shock Oklahoma Baptist to take a 25-22 third set win to go up 2-1.

Arkansas Tech went into the fourth set just one away from the conference championship. Once again the start of the set proved to be a tough battle with neither side giving away too many points to the other. A kill from Poupard and an ace from Kaylee Buell put the Bison up 14-12. The Bison continued to control the set with a 7-0 run capped off by two kills from Hellmuth to take a 21-14 lead over the Golden Suns. Tech would try to pull back into the set with kills from Bradley, Paladini, Simpson and Merkel, but Oklahoma Baptist would take the fourth set 25-19 to force a fifth and final set.

The pressure was mounting on the Golden Suns headed into the final set and it showed with Oklahoma Baptist taking a commanding 7-1 lead looking every bit like three-peat conference champions. However, the Golden Suns decided they were not to be trifled with and pulled off a comeback for the ages. Down 7-1, the Golden Suns went on an absolutely skillful and incredible 14-3 run led by Riley, Paladini, Bradley and Simpson to leave the Bison in shambles and stun the two time defending GAC champs 15-10 in a thrilling fifth set to claim the GAC Tournament Championship.

With the conference tournament championship under their belt, the Golden Suns have punched a ticket to the DII NCAA Central Region Tournament. Their exact seeding, opponent and match information will be announced on the DII NCAA Tournament Section Show at 6:30 on Monday evening with more updates to come.