OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Arkansas Tech volleyball team opens the 2022 season with strong performances in two matches, including a 3-1 win in their first match against Southwest Baptist.
The Golden Suns started the season strong with a solid win (15-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-18) over Southwest Baptist on Friday morning. The Bearcats started the match strong coming out with an early 15-25 set one victory.
To begin the second set, Southwest Baptist jumped out to an early lead, but Arkansas Tech managed to dig in their heels and find their groove to stay in the match eventually pulling the set to within a single point. Responding to the Tech run, Southwest Baptist put on the gas pulling out to an 18-12 lead. Despite the deficit, the Golden Suns responded with a 5-0 run thanks to three errors by the Beatcats and a pair of kills from Maddi Sidenburg and
Brianna Merkel to bring the set back within one. A kill and ace from Merkel tied the set at 20 all. Two kills from
Heather Thomas and
Lydia Hale closed out the set as Tech pulled off a fantastic comeback to get themselves back in the match with both sides tied at one set win a piece.
The Golden Suns picked up the third set win thanks to an 8-2 run in the set that put them in the drivers seat. Arkansas Tech looked to close out the match in the fourth set up 2-1, but Southwest Baptist had other plans with a 7-2 run in the middle of the set to give them a 15-10 advantage. Down 15-18 later in the set, the Golden Suns once again proved their determination to fight until the very end as they closed the set and match on an impressive 10-0 run capped off by a kill from Merkel and two kills from Sidenburg to claim their first win of the season 3-1.
Following their win over Southwest Baptist, Tech was up against Fort Hays State where they would drop a hard fought and close match 2-3 (26-24, 14-25, 21-25, 27-25, 15-17). The Golden Suns opened their first set of the match in a tight battle with the Tigers, but remained on top holding a 13-10 lead capped off by a kill from Sidenburg. A quick 5-0 run by Fort Hays State put them in front by two as both sides continued their efforts to gain a first set advantage. A kill from Sidenburg and Thomas gave the Golden Suns the 24-22 lead and a pair of errors from the opposing side gave them the 26-24 set one victory.
In the second set, Arkansas Tech saw a solid 6-0 run early on finished off by a kill from
Gracie Palmer to take a 9-8 lead. However Fort Hays State proved to have the greater run ending the second set with a 15-4 run to tie things up headed into the third set. The Tigers would take the third set despite the attempts of a comeback by the Golden Suns.
Determined not to go down in four, Arkansas Tech started hot in set four with a 10-4 lead highlighted by a pair of kills from
Abigail Weaver and Hale as well as one kill each for
Zoe Lott and Sidenburg. Holding a 15-9 lead, the Tigers found a 9-2 run to take a 17-16 lead down the stretch. The Golden Suns would hold firm though and fight out a tough set to earn the 27-25 fourth set win capped off by a kill from
Megan Solberg to send the match into a fifth and final set.
The Golden Suns looked to be in control of the final set with a 10-3 lead but Fort Hays State had other plans pulling off the come from behind win to take the fifth and final set 15-17.
Arkansas Tech will continue their opening weekend at the Oklahoma Christian Tournament in Oklahoma City with another pair of matches tomorrow. First up is Illinois-Springfield at 11 a.m., then at 7:30 pm. tomorrow evening, the Golden Suns will close out their weekend against their hosts Oklahoma Christian.
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