ALVA, Okla. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team played a highly-competitive match on the road against Northwestern Oklahoma on Friday evening, but fell just short, losing to the Rangers in four sets.
In the match, the Golden Suns found themselves at an early disadvantage as they dropped the first set 25-14. As they have throughout the season, however, the Golden Suns were resilient and got things turned around in a big way in the second set.
In that set, the Golden Suns' offense exploded for 15 kills against just two errors. Early action in the set was relatively close, but after building a five-point lead, 10-5, the Golden Suns faced a furious push by the Rangers as they scored five-straight to knot the set at 10-all. Once the Golden Suns were able to stop that run, they hit another level and took complete control of the set by scoring eight of the next 10 points to give them an 18-12 lead.
The Rangers were able to cut that lead in half, but Tech staved off any real threat and closed out the set 25-19.
In the third set, the Golden Suns came back from an early four-point deficit and tied the score at 13-all and again at 15-all. The Rangers would score three-straight at that point to give them the cushion needed to eventually close out the set, 25-20.
The fourth set was back-and-forth and up for grabs throughout.
With the score tied 14-all, the Golden Suns scored four-straight points thanks to three-consecutive kills by
Savannah Meyer and a service ace by Laure Grier. Later in the set, the Golden Suns were the first two 20 points and maintained a four-point lead at the same time.
NWOSU battled back hard and scored seven of the next nine points in the set to swing the lead in their favor, 23-21. The Golden Suns found their footing at that point and got to set-point with three-straight points with consecutive kills by
Kaitlyn Neal and one from
Sierra Orton.
Unfortunately, the Rangers scored the next points to stave off Tech's push to force a decisive fifth set and end the match in four.
Statistically, the Golden Suns played one of their best offensive matches of the season and had four players with at least eight kills. Meyer led the way with 13 followed by Neal's 11. Orton had nine and
Emma Crenshaw added eight.
In the assist department,
Gracie Palmer and
Kenzie Garrett were one off the other's pace with Palmer having 22 and Garrett, 21.
On the defensive side,
Jamie Myrick and
Madi Hartman both reached double-digits in digs with Myrick leading with 13. Hartman had 11.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a welcomed return home where they will play three matches inside Tucker Coliseum next week. The first of those will be a Tuesday night non-conference affair with Lane College. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
