RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – For the second time this week, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns will be taking the court, facing off against Southern Arkansas for this first time this season. The teams meeting earlier this season was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Golden Suns are 5-1 in Great American Conference play and started their second round of competition against GAC in Arkansas this week, with the exception of Southern Arkansas. Arkansas Tech has defeated Ouachita twice, Arkansas-Monticello twice and Henderson State once.

Tuesday night, the Golden Suns took down Arkansas-Monticello in four sets on the road (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17). Rilie Vote led Arkansas Tech in kills for the third-straight match, putting down 13 kills. Addison Masters and Haylee Paladini joined Vote in double-figure kills with 11 and 10 respectively. Brianna Merkel picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 16 digs. Madison Grantham continued to anchor the back row, picking up 30 digs and serving up a game-high three aces.

First serve is slated for 6 p.m. in the W.T. Watson Center in Magnolia.

TECH TIDBITS
The Golden Suns have not faced off against the Lady Muleriders since Nov. 14, 2019, when Arkansas Tech swept Southern Arkansas in Magnolia. Arkansas Tech also took down Southern Arkansas in September in straight sets inside Tucker Coliseum.

Arkansas Tech's offense it led by a quartet of attackers averaging over two kills per set. Rilie Vote leads the way, averaging 2.68, followed by Addison Masters with 2.52, Haylee Paladini with 2.33 and Mackenzie Eford with 2.26. Brianna Merkel directs the majority of the offense, averaging 8.78 assist per set and .91 kills per set. Emily Ragsdale leads the defensive front, averaging 1.34 blocks per set. Madison Grantham holds down the back line, averaging 6.22 digs per set.

SCOUTING THE LADY MULERIDERS
Southern Arkansas enters their matchup against the Golden Suns 0-6 in GAC play. In their last outing, Southern Arkansas fell to Ouachita Baptist in straight sets. Kenadee Pope led the Lady Muleriders with nine kills, followed by Morgan Gross and Victoria White with six kills each. Morgan Schuster directed the offense with 26 assists. Bailey Kirk picked up 13 digs in the loss.

The Lady Muleriders are led by Morgan Gross averaging 3.57 kills per set, followed by Kenadee Pope with 2.36 and Victoria White 2.33 kills per set. Morgan Schuster leads the team with 10.04 assists per set. Bailey Kirk leads, averaging 3.22 digs per set.