PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Arkansas Tech volleyball team opened their 2024 season on Friday with a pair of neutral site matches as part of the Gorilla Classic, hosted by Pittsburg State. Tech would come out on the downside of both matches, falling to host Pitt State, 3-0 and to Southwest Baptist, 3-1.
In the match with Pitt State, the Golden Suns were unable to overcome a slow start in the first set, losing the set, 25-6. As the match progressed, the Golden Suns continued to improve their offense, but still were upended in straight sets.
A few hours later, the Golden Suns were back in action against Southwest Baptist. In that match, the Golden Suns got off to a hot start getting up on the Bearcats 6-1 in the first set. Southwest Baptist would pull within a point, 7-6, before the Golden Suns regained control of the set and eventually cruised to a 25-15 win.
Set two was close early, but a 7-0 run by the Golden Suns flipped a two-point deficit into a five-point lead, 11-6. The Golden Suns would stay out in front until a 4-0 run by the Bearcats swung the lead in their favor, 18-17.
Action in the second set remained close and pushed beyond the 25-point mark as the Golden Suns fought off consecutive set points when the Bearcats held a 24-22 lead. The Golden Suns then had set-point at 25-24, but Southwest Baptist rattled off three-straight points to steal the set.
After a relatively slow start in the third set, the Golden Suns ripped off a 10-1 run to flip a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, 13-8. Tech would remain out in front until the Bearcats tied it back at 16-all. The Golden Suns did not lose their lead, however, and led 22-20 before the Bearcats surged past to win the set 25-22 as they closed out on a 5-0 run.
Set four was closely-contest with 11 tie scores through the first 32 points. Three-straight points for the Golden Suns at that point pushed them in front 19-16 as they were battling to extend the match to a decisive fifth set. Unfortunately, Southwest Baptist had another late run in them as they scored five-straight points to lead 21-19.
Similar to the second set, the Golden Suns found themselves facing set-point with the Bearcats leading 24-22 but a kill from
Kaitlyn Neal and a service ace by
Jamie Myrick tied the set at 24-all. Southwest Baptist would end the set and subsequently the match with consecutive kills.
The Golden Suns will now turn around and play a pair of matches on Saturday starting with a 9 a.m. match against Western Colorado. Their second match will be a 4:30 p.m. start against Oklahoma Christian.
