RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team had their 2024 season come to an end on Thursday night as the Golden Suns lost at home to Ouachita Baptist, 3-0.
Entering the match, the Golden Suns were still vying for a berth into the upcoming GAC Tournament but needed to win and a couple other outcomes to go their way across the conference. Unfortunately, the loss to Ouachita dropped them below eighth in the conference standings.
In their match with Ouachita, the Golden Suns were unable to bounce back from a slow start that saw the Tigers race out to an early lead in the opening set and eventually take the set by a comfortable margin.
The Golden Suns played the Tigers a lot closer in the second set, but the Tigers broke a 10-all tie and proceeded to go on a 6-1 run to seize control of the set. The Golden Suns fought back and pulled within two points of the lead twice with the last being at 19-17, but that earlier run provided enough of a cushion for the Tigers to close out the set, 25-19.
Set three featured alternating runs by the Golden Suns and Tigers. The biggest one saw the Golden Suns rally from a 17-11 deficit to trail by a point as they scored five-straight. Later in the set, the Tigers were up 23-18 and the Golden Suns rallied once more with four-straight points this time to pull within a point.
Unfortunately, after a successful challenge by Ouachita on a play that would have made it 24-all, the teams ended up alternating the next three points, giving Ouachita the set, 25-23, and the match 3-0.
With the season ending, the Golden Suns had several players achieve statistical milestones.
Sophomores
Savannah Meyer and
Henley Hooks would register over 300 kills to give the Golden Suns the first pair of teammates with over 300 kills since the 2017 season. Meyer would end up leading the team and nearly got to 400 as she ended with 394. That is the most kills in a season since 2016 when Hunter Eshnaur had 408.
Junior setter
Emma Kiser ended with 935 assists which was the most in a season since 2017 when Amanda Milnick had 1,190.
Senior libero
Jamie Myrick ended the season with 538 digs and ended her Golden Suns career with 1,365. Her season dig total is the eight-most in program history, while her career total is fifth all-time.
