PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech volleyball team faced another tough road loss on Monday evening against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (21-25, 17-25, 24-26) in their fifth match of the season so far. The Golden Suns currently stand at 1-4 in their opening slate of non-conference matchups.

Heading into the match, both teams were riding off of some tough matches looking to get back in the win column. In the first set of the night the Golden Lions had 11 kills while the Golden Suns put down nine. A 5-0 run in the middle of the set gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff the momentum to take the first set 25-21.

In the second set, Arkansas Tech found their own 5-0 run in the middle of the set highlighted by some errors by Arkansas-Pine Bluff and two kills from Maddi Siedenburg and an ace from Brianna Merkel. The Golden Suns led the match in aces with four total, while the Golden Lions had just two. Arkansas-Pine Bluff ended the match hot on a 15-3 run giving them another set win for their second.

The third and final set of the night wouldn't be easy for the Golden Lions as the Golden Suns refused to go down without a hard earned fight. A kill from Abigail Weaver and another ace from Merkel set the team up well early in the set holding a 5-2 lead. Three kills from Merkel helped push the lead to 13-9. Down the stretch, a nice 4-0 run by Tech that included a pair of aces from Gracie Palmer and another kill from Merkel had them up 21-16 over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

A quick 5-1 run by the Golden Lions brought the set and match to within just a point with the Golden Suns still leading 22-21. A late 5-2 run by Arkansas-Pine Bluff would seal the match as they took the third and final set to an extended 26-24 final score. 

The Golden Suns will return to action this weekend as they travel to Shawnee, Okla. to participate in the Oklahoma Baptist Tournament. During the weekend, Tech will face off against four non-conference opponents with two matches slated for Friday and another pair set to go for Saturday.



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