RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Golden Suns deliver their last October win of the season after sweeping the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms at home. This win allows the Suns to tie the Ouachita Baptist Tigers in third for conference standings.
The Cotton Blossoms were the first to score in set one and had a 2-0 lead. After a Cotton Blossom service error, the Suns came out with a kill by Madison Crum. Now tied 2-2, the Cotton Blossoms earned another kill before the Suns went on a three-point streak. The Suns were able to maintain a steady lead before they went on a four-point run to widen the score gap at 12-8. Scoring tossed back-and-forth and the Suns were the first to see 20 points on the board. By 20-15, the Cotton Blossoms were able to score a couple more points until the Suns prevailed, and a final kill by Savannah Meyer gave the Suns set one 25-18.
Both teams started set two with kills to tie at 1-1. The Cotton Blossoms led at 3-1 until their service error gave the Suns a point. The Suns ran off the momentum when Erika Hernandez and Henley Hooks made a block assist to tie the score at 3-3. The teams' score gap thereon remained no higher than two points until mid set. The Suns were offensively strong and BryAnna Young, Hooks, Meyer, Crum and Hernandez gained kills to increase the score gap to 18-12.
The Cotton Blossoms were able to score two more points before their service error gave the Suns a 19-14 lead. The Suns were halted and the Cotton Blossoms went on a four-point streak to catch up and closed the gap at 19-18. The Suns were able to push the rest of the set and managed to grab set two at 25-22.
Through the beginning of set three, a Sun error gave the Cotton Blossoms their first point. Hopes were high when the Suns then went on a four-point run and jumped into an early lead at 4-1. Whereas briefly after, the Cotton Blossoms earned a seven-point run and led 8-4. The Suns were able to answer back and were helped offensively by Carson Thiebaud's service aces, plus kills by Juliana Borchers, Crum and Hooks. Coming out 10-8, Thiebaud's service error gave the Cotton Blossoms a point but kills by Borchers and Crum gave the Suns a 13-9 lead. The Suns led the rest of the set and racked up many kill stats before finishing the set 25-14 and winning the match 3-0.
Suns' Henley Hooks and Madison Crum tied and led at 11 kills for the team. Kenzie Garrett led in assists totaling 24. Savannah Meyer led in digs at 13 and following Meyer is Samantha Wojtowicz with 11.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns stay home for the week and play on Tuesday, November 3 against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
