MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team moved to 2-0 in Great American Conference play on Tuesday night as they grinded out a five-set win on the road at Arkansas-Monticello.
The Golden Suns captured the first set, 25-18, but were then put back on their heels a bit as UAM narrowly won sets two and three, 25-23 and 26-24, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Tech then found themselves in an early hole in the fourth set as UAM raced out to a 7-2 lead.
Later in that set, the Golden Suns remained down five points, 11-6, but cut that deficit down to a single point as they scored five of the next six points. During that run, the Golden Suns benefitted from four Cotton Blossom attack errors.
The Golden Suns then kept things going with their offensive attack and scored three-straight points on kills to suddenly take the lead, 14-13. In that stretch, the Golden Suns had kills from
Henley Hooks,
Emma Kiser and
Kaitlyn Neal.
Tech would remain in the lead until a three-point spurt by UAM gave them a slim one-point lead, 17-16. The Cotton Blossoms were then first to 20 points in the set and were serving for set and match-point while leading by four.
The Golden Suns then successfully fought off three-straight match points and added three more after that to cap a sensational comeback to force a fifth set.
Set five was back-and-forth early with five tie scores through the first 10 points of the set. The sixth tie came moments later and proved to be the turning point as it knotted the score at six-all and gave the serve to the Golden Suns'
Jamie Myrick.
After a bad set by UAM broke the tie and put the Golden Suns up 7-6, Myrick essentially put the set and match away with tremendous serves that resulted in four-straight aces to put Tech up 11-6. The two teams then traded the next six points to push the match to the brink, 14-9.
UAM would score consecutive points to prolong the set before Neal hammered home the final kill.
The Golden Suns had three players register double-digit kills with Hooks pacing the team with 15. Just off the double-digit kill total was
Jordan Clouse, but her nine kills were extremely efficient as they came without any errors on just 14 total attacks.
Setter
Emma Kiser averaged 10 assists per set as she totaled 50. Myrick logged the most digs with 29. She also ended with a career single-match high six service aces.
The Golden Suns will now head home for a clash with Southern Arkansas on Thursday night. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Tucker Coliseum.
