RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas Tech volleyball team fell to Ouachita Baptist 0-3 in Tucker Coliseum on Thursday evening. The Golden Suns move to 3-13 overall and 1-4 in GAC play
Both sides traded blows in the opening set of action, but a kill from
Brianna Merkel and
Jordyn English, as well as an ace from
Gracie Palmer gave Arkansas Tech the early 6-4 lead. Ouachita quickly struck back stringing together a 7-2 run to take control 12-9. The Tigers followed that run with another, this time 9-1. to put them up 22-12. The 9-1 run by Ouachita would be enough to close out the first set as the Tigers picked up the 25-16 first set win.
To begin the second set of action, the Tigers quickly got off to a hot start holding an early 10-3 lead. However, the Golden Suns did not back down going on a 7-0 run led by
Maddi Siedenburg with two kills as well as
Jenna Keller who picked up two aces in the run to tie it up 10-10. From here the lead once again swung back and forth with both sides fighting to keep control of their lead in the crucial set two. Eventually, a kill from
Heather Thomas and an attack error by the Tigers tied the game at 22-22 down the stretch. The Tigers would be in control 24-23 with set point, but Tech fought back to take the 25-24 lead thanks to a kill from
Lydia Hale and an error by Ouachita. The Tigers would ultimately get the final strike, however, and take the second set 27-25.
Once again, Ouachita got off to a hot start in the third set taking a 10-4 lead early. A pair of errors by Ouachita and a kill from Hale would cut the lead down to five at 8-13 for the Golden Suns. Following a pair of kills from the Tigers that had them in front with a 22-15 lead down the stretch, the Golden Suns would put together a 3-0 run fueled by a pair of kills from Siedenburg and Hale to make it 18-22 Ouachita. Ending on a 3-1 run the Tigers would pick up the set three win 25-19 and take the match.
Leading the offensive attack for the Golden Suns was Siedenburg with seven kills on the night. Hale followed with six, while
Kaitlyn Neal had five. Pacing the Golden Suns on offense was Palmer with a team-high 19 assists in the match. In terms of service aces, Keller led the team with three, while
Jamie Myrick picked up two. Anchoring the Golden Suns on defense was Myrick with 14 digs, followed by Keller with 11. Locking down the front of the net was Hale with two assisted blocks against the Tigers.
The Golden Suns have a week to prepare for their next outing, which will be a road matchup against Southeastern in Durant, Okla. on Thursday, September 29. The match is set for a 6 p.m. first serve in Durant.
