RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team opened their three-match homestand on Tuesday night against Lane College for a non-conference match. The Golden Suns would make relative quick work of Lane, beating them in straight sets.
Fueling the victory for the Golden Suns was an offensive attack that out-killed the Dragons 38-22. In each set, the Golden Suns would register double-digit kills while the high watermark for the Dragons was nine.
In the first set, the Golden Suns played from behind for the early part of the set, but a monster 9-0 run flipped a three-point deficit into a commanding six-point lead, 18-12. The Dragons were able to cut that Tech lead in half at the 20-17 mark, but the Golden Suns closed out the set with five of the next six points.
Set two saw the Golden Suns jump out to an early lead that they would not relinquish. The second set also saw another lengthy run, this one an 8-0 gashing that made it 17-5, Tech. Lane fought back in the set and got as close as four points, but the Golden Suns staved off the threat and closed out set two, 25-19.
The third set was controlled early by Tech as they raced out to a 5-0 lead. Lane eventually pulled within a point, 10-9, but a 4-0 run by the Golden Suns pushed their lead back out to five. The Golden Suns would remain in the lead throughout, but had to hold off one more push by Lane as they tied the score at 23-all. Kills from
Henley Hooks and
Kenzie Garrett, however put an end to the threat and closed out the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
Hooks would lead the Golden Suns in kills with 10. She also had a .500 attack percentage with just one error on 18 total attacks.
Emma Crenshaw was next in kills with seven followed by
Sierra Orton and her six kills. Assists were split almost evenly between
Gracie Palmer and Garrett. Palmer had 14 assists and is now five assists shy of 1,000 for her career. Garrett was one off that pace by Palmer and had 13 assists.
Defensively,
Jamie Myrick had 17 digs to lead the team.
The Golden Suns will turn their attention back towards GAC play as they will play a pair of league matches later this week. First up is a Thursday night match against Southeastern Oklahoma. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. from inside Tucker Coliseum.
