MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech Volleyball Team takes down Southern Arkansas (25-19, 25-19, 25-15) with a sweep on the road. The Golden Suns are now on a six-game win streak with a 9-3 overall record and 3-0 in GAC play.

Leading the attack for the Golden Suns was senior outside hitter Tymber Riley with 12 kills. Senior right-side hitter Haylee Paladini helped fuel the offense as well with 7 kills. Pacing the offense was junior setter Brianna Merkel with 22 assists.

Merkel came up big on the defensive end for Tech as well with 10 digs in the match. Senior libero Madison Grantham was just as helpful defensively with 9 digs. Junior outside hitter Kaitlynn Bradley led the Golden Suns in blocks with 6 total.

In the first set, SAU opened strong taking an early 5-2 lead after an ace. Tech came right back to take a 10-8 lead following an ace from Merkel. A pair of kills and an ace from Tymber Riley would extend the Golden Sun lead to 13-10. Tech continued to stay ahead of Southern Arkansas, despite the attempts to close the gaps. A kill from Merkel would close out the first set with a 25-19 victory for Tech.

The second set started a close one with two back-to-back kills from Merkel and Bradley tying it up 4-4. Two kills from Riley and an attack error by the Muleriders would extend the Golden Suns to a 13-10 lead. A kill from Bradley and Paladini, followed by more errors from Southern Arkansas pushed the Tech lead up 18-11. The Muleriders attempted the comeback getting it as close as 23-19, but a kill from Riley and a bad set on SAU would lift the Golden Suns to a 25-19 victory and set up the sweep.

In the third and final set, Tech would start strong taking an early 8-4 lead capped off by a kill from Bradley. A 4-0 run in the middle of the set would extend the Golden Sun lead 16-9. Another kill from Bradley and two aces from Jamie Myrick would put Tech in control of the final set, up 20-11. One final kill from Riley would earn the Golden Suns a 3-0 road sweep.

Head Volleyball Coach Kera Dukic loved to see her team stay together and focus on getting the win.

"We're so happy about this win for a couple of different reasons! For one, we desperately needed that sweep feeling. We've been having a hard time closing out matches and because of that we've been working really hard on pressure situations and being able to finish. I feel like we were super intentional at practices this week which sometimes meant for slower paced practices, but the girls handled it really well. We'll definitely use this weekend to rest our minds and bodies before a big week next week. OUA is always a tough environment to go and play in and then we've got our pack the stands night next Thursday against Harding. We need everyone there! Fight On!"

The Golden Suns will stay on the road and head to Arkadelphia to face Ouachita Baptist for their next match on Tuesday, September 28. The match is set for a 6 p.m. start.