MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Golden Suns traveled south to Magnolia and faced the Southern Arkansas Muleriders. The close sets eventually led to the Suns leaving victorious with a 3-1 match. Tied with Southwestern Oklahoma State, they now sit at fourth in the conference with a 9-4 record.
SAU began set one with a 2-0 lead until Tech caught up and tied the teams 3-3. The score tossed to-and-fro where the Suns and Muleriders contained the score gap within a one-point range. By 9-9, the Muleriders had three straight kills and jumped to 12-9. Both teams continually racked up kill stats until a Tech attack error. SAU then led 18-13 and Tech gradually closed the score gap at 23-22 once the Muleriders had an attack error. After kills from BryAnna Young and Madison Crum, the teams met at 24-24. A block by Erika Hernandez lended the Suns to hit 25 points first, and a final kill by Young gave the Suns set one 26-24.
Set two had the same start where SAU led at 2-0 before the Suns scored their first point by a kill from Karlly Dillard. The Muleriders were able to increase the score gap up to a five-point range and maintained the lead until mid set. Kills by Hernandez and Crum closed off the score gap at 18-16. The Suns were unable to catch up much more and a service error by the Suns gave the Muleriders set two 25-21.
The Suns opened set three with a kill by Savannah Meyer for a 1-0 lead. The Muleriders briefly led 4-2 until a kill by Henley Hooks sparked the Suns to go on a five-point streak to lead 7-4. More kills from Crum, Hernandez, Young and Meyer helped the Suns leap to an 18-11 lead. The Suns were the first to reach 20 points and caused a 10-point gap at 24-14. The Muleriders were able to score a four-point streak until a bad set allowed the Suns their 25th point to earn set three 25-18.
With the Suns now 2-1 for the match, set four gave the Suns an early 3-0 lead after a Mulerider attack error, a service ace by Meyer and a kill from Hooks. The score was kept within a two-point range by 10-8 before the Suns earned some kills and led 15-9. They were able to reach 20 points first once more after a block by Young. The Suns were at 20-14 before the Muleriders caught up by 22-20. The teams kept it toe-to-toe leading up to kills and an attack error by the Suns which brought them to victory in set five at 25-23.
Henley Hooks led the Golden Suns in kills totaling 14. Coming up behind Hooks is Savannah Meyer with a double-double at 13 kills and 12 digs, and Madison Crum also tied Meyer at 13 kills. Kenzie Garrett led in assists at 32 total, whereas Samantha Wojtowicz earned 32 digs.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns stay home for Halloween weekend where they will face the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms on Saturday, October 31. First serve is set at 4 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum.
