RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Neither of the first two sets were decided at 25, but the Arkansas Tech volleyball team was able to come away with a win in each, winning the first set 28-26 and the second set 30-28. Tech then dominated the third set to close out an impressive three-set sweep over Oklahoma Baptist at home on Saturday afternoon.
In the first set, Arkansas Tech had control of the match early thanks to 7-0 run. That flipped a two-point deficit at 5-3 into a five-point lead, 10-5. The Golden Suns would maintain the lead during the next stretch of action, but Oklahoma Baptist did battle back and got as close a point on two occasions.
The second of those had Tech leading 16-15. The Golden Suns would then score three-straight points to go back up by four, 19-15. A few moments later, the Bison once more were within a point, this time at 21-20. After the two teams traded points to bring the score to 23-21, Oklahoma Baptist scored three-straight points to suddenly have set-point, 24-23.
Tech would stave off the initial set-point from the Bison and then scored twice more to win the first set 26-24.
The second set featured several modest runs by each team. The Golden Suns were the first to 20 points at 20-17. The Bison then scored six of the next seven points to go up 23-21. Tech and Oklahoma Baptist traded the next two points, once more giving the Bison a set-point opportunity. Consecutive kills from
Savannah Meyer and
Henley Hooks, however tied the set at 24-all.
Each team would then be serving with set-point at least once over the next bit of action. Oklahoma Baptist only had one of those opportunities with theirs coming at 25-24. Tech then had opportunities at 26-25, 27-26 and 28-27 before they were able to close the set, 30-28, thanks to kills from
Erika Hernandez and Meyer.
Looking to avoid a sweep, the Bison started the first set hot, going up 4-1, but the Golden Suns settled in and scored six of the next seven points to take a 7-5 lead. The Golden Suns would not relinquish that lead and swelled it out as large as 12 points before winning the set by that margin, 25-13.
As a team, the Golden Suns had 48 kills and out-killed Oklahoma Baptist by 13. The Golden Suns were also efficient in their attack as they had a .248 team attack percentage. Meyer was the only Golden Sun with double-digit kills at 14, but four others had at least six kills. Hooks and Hernandez were next in kills with nine each.
Emma Kiser and
Kenzie Garrett split setter duties and each had at least 20 assists. Kiser led with 22 while Garrett had 21.
Defensively, the Golden Suns were led in digs by
Samantha Wojtowicz and her 21 digs.
Millie Allgood was second with 14 while Meyer had 11 for a double-double.
The Golden Suns will now prepare for a pair of road matches next week. They will first be on the road at Southwestern Oklahoma on Thursday, October 16 and then on the road at Northwestern Oklahoma on Friday, October 17.
