RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech volleyball team will begin their 2021 season this weekend at the Dallas Baptist Invitational in Dallas,Texas. During their opening weekend in Texas, Tech will face off against four opponents across two days.

Tech will open the weekend against Eastern New Mexico on Friday, September 3 at 9 a.m. The Golden Suns are 1-1 all time against the Greyhounds. During their most recent season in 2019, Eastern New Mexico went 5-21 overall and 3-15 in conference play. The Greyhounds did not play during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Golden Suns will then face Westminster at 4:30 pm. on Friday. September 3. Westminster went 7-11 overall and 4-9 in conference play last season. Tech is 2-0 all time against Westminster and will face the Griffins for the first time since 1994.

The next matchup for the Golden Suns will be on Saturday, September 4 at 11 a.m. against Wayne State. Tech is 1-1 all time against the Wildcats. During their most recent season in 2019, Wayne State went 24-7 overall and 14-6 in conference play. The Wildcats did not play during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, Tech will close out the weekend against the invitational host, Dallas Baptist on Saturday September 4 at 5 p.m. Last season, Dallas Baptist went 3-10 overall and 3-9 during conference play. The Golden Suns are 2-1 against the Patriots all time.

This season, the Golden Suns return 13 from the 2020 squad. Among those returning are Madison Grantham and Brianna Merkel both of which were named as All-GAC Honorable Mentions. A defensive specialist for the Golden Suns, Grantham led the team and was top five in the GAC in digs with 258, averaging 5.49 digs/set. Merkel, the primary setter, led the team in assists with 339 and averaged 7.21 assists/set.