RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team remained unbeaten in Great American Conference play on Thursday night as they swept past visiting Southern Arkansas, 3-0. The win was also the 100
th in the career of head coach
Kera Coleman. Out of her 100 career wins as a head coach, 81 now have come with Coleman at the helm of her alma mater.
In the match, the Golden Suns had to battle from an early deficit in the first set as they were quickly down 5-1. The Muleriders would remain in the lead over the next portion of the match and built their lead out as large as six points, 16-10, before the Golden Suns came roaring back with five of the next six points to pull within two points, 17-15.
The two teams then traded 3-0 scoring bursts to keep it a two-point margin in favor of SAU, 20-18. The Muleriders then scored consecutive points to take a four-point lead, 22-18. From there, the Golden Suns scored four-straight points with
Jamie Myrick serving to tie the set at 22-all. SAU later got to set point, 24-22 but a kill from
Savannah Meyer and a service ace by
Emma Kiser knotted the set at 24-all.
SAU regained set-point on the next point in the set, but the Golden Suns captured the ensuing three points to stave off set-point and win the set themselves. During that late set-ending surge, the Golden Suns got a pair of kills from
Henley Hooks and one from
Kaitlyn Neal to end the set.
The Muleriders appeared to not be too fazed by the late comeback by the Golden Suns in the first set and once more jumped out to the early lead in the set and led as by as much as four points, 9-5, early on. The Golden Suns got their footing at that point, and went on a 5-0 run to take the lead 10-9.
After a service error ended the run, the Golden Suns got right back to work and scored the next three points to take a three-point lead, 13-10. From there, the Golden Suns were in control of the set and the closest SAU would get was two points.
Things really swung in favor of Tech with them leading 18-13 as they scored six-straight points to swell their lead out to nine, 24-15. SAU staved off one set-point before
Sierra Orton put the finishing touches on the set with a kill.
The third set started out differently as it was Tech that raced out to the early lead, 6-1. SAU fought back and were able to get within a point, 7-6, but the Golden Suns reestablished their grip by scoring nine of the next 11 points to give them a dominant 16-8 lead.
The Golden Suns were then able to withstand one final surge by SAU and closed out the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.
Tech will now prepare for another big match at home this coming Tuesday night as they will host Harding. That match is billed as "Pack The Stands Night" at Tucker Coliseum. First-serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
