RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Coming of their 2-0 road trip last week, the Arkansas Tech volleyball team falls at home to Southwestern Oklahoma State 0-3 on Dig Pink Night. The Golden Suns move to 5-14 overall with a 3-5 record against Great American Conference opponents.
SWOSU started the opening set with an early 12-4 lead. The Bulldogs continued to stay on the attack extending their lead up to 19-6. Three errors and a service ace from
Emma Crenshaw gave the Golden Suns four straight points making it a 10-19 deficit. A 3-0 run by SWOSU kept them on top, but two quick kills from
Brianna Merkel and
Lydia Hale put Tech on the board once again at 22-12. Ultimately, the Bulldogs would take the first set winning the next three points to take it 25-12.
Once again the Bulldogs opened with a strong lead to start the second set at 10-4. A quick kill from
Heather Thomas would make it a 10-5 set. SWOSU proceeded to go on a 7-1 run that extended their lead out to 17-6. Merkel and
Sierra Orton would pick up a pair of kills to try and get Tech back in the fight. The Bulldogs would close out the second set on an 8-3 run to take it 25-12 once again.
The start of the third set would be a close fight as both teams went blow for blow until three straight errors by SWOSU gave the Golden Suns the first significant lead of the set at 6-4. The Bulldogs would quickly erase their deficit however on a 5-1 run to put them back on top 9-7.
Maddi Siedenburg and
Kaitlyn Neal picked up two quick kills to tie the set at 9 all. Once again, the Bulldogs would respond with their own run earning five of the next six points. An ace from
Aspen Jankowski and a kill from Thomas would bring the set back within one point at 14-15. Two back-to-back kills from Siedenburg would tie it up at 16-16. However, the Bulldogs would finish on a 9-2 run to take the third set 25-18 and take the match as well.
Leading the attack for the Golden Suns was Merkel and Thomas each picking up five kills against the Bulldogs. Siedenburg followed the leading pair with four kills. Pacing the Golden Sun offense was Merkel with nine assists, while
Gracie Palmer had six. In terms of aces,
Megan Solberg,
Emma Crenshaw and Jankowski led the team each picking up one on the night.
On defense,
Jamie Myrick led the team with 11 on the night.
The Golden Suns will turnaround and take on Northwestern Oklahoma State tomorrow afternoon in Tucker Coliseum. The match is set for a 4 p.m. first serve.
