WEEKEND INFORMATION
ARKANSAS TECH GOLDEN SUNS 2-2 (0-0 GAC)	MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS 1-3 (0-0 MIAA)	WILLIAM JEWELL CARDINALS 1-3 (0-0 GLVC)	TRUMAN STATE BULLDOGS 1-3 (0-0 GLVC)	PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS 4-0 (0-0 MIAA)
	Thursday, September 3 | 9 a.m. John Lance Arena | Pittsburg, Kan. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO	Thursday, September 3 | 2 p.m. John Lance Arena | Pittsburg, Kan. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO	Friday, September 4 | 9 a.m. John Lance Arena | Pittsburg, Kan. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO	Friday, September 4 | 2 p.m. John Lance Arena | Pittsburg, Kan. LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

FIRST SERVE
Off and running in 2026, the Arkansas Tech volleyball team is set to hit the road once again this weekend and will play four matches as part of this year's Gorilla Classic, hosted by Pittsburg State. The Golden Suns will play two matches on Thursday, September 3 and two on Friday, September 4.

 

Thursday's matches have the Golden Suns take on Missouri Southern State at 9 a.m. and familiar foe, William Jewell at 2 p.m.  On Friday, the Golden Suns will take on Truman State at 9 a.m. and then the tournament hosts Pittsburg State at 2 p.m. later that day.

 

The entirety of the Gorilla Classic will have live stats and live video for all matches. Video coverage is pay-per-view through The MIAA Network. Links for stats and video are available at www.ArkansasTechSports.com/coverage

 

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TECH(NICALLY) SPEAKING

The Golden Suns are off to a 2-2 start to their season after opening last weekend at the Washburn Invitational, hosted by Washburn. At that invitational, Tech played Westminster, Washburn, Oklahoma Christian and William Jewell. The Golden Suns were competitive in all matches but dropped two games, and beat Westminster 3-2 and William Jewell 3-1 in their other two.

 

Offensively, the Golden Suns are averaging 12.2 kills/set and have a .196 team attack percentage. They have three players with at least 30 kills and are led by Henley Hooks with 43 kills. Erika Hernandez has the highest attack percentage on the team at .488 (43k-80att-4err).

 

The Golden Suns have split time at setter between Kenzie Garrett and Briazia Osborne. Lead setter is Garret with a total of 88 and Osborne at 58.

 

Defensively, the Golden Suns are averaging 15.9 digs/set and 1.9 blocks per set. Karis Brinlee leads the team in digs with 57. Erika Hernandez currently leads the team in blocks with 11.0.

 

The head coach of the Golden Suns is Hannah Wuest. She is in her second year as head coach at Tech with a 17-14 record.

 

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SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE

The Lions are off to a 1-3 start to their season after opening at home for the Southern Invite with matches against Southeastern Oklahoma State, Missouri S&T, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southwest Baptist. MSSU fell in their first two matches against Southeastern Oklahoma State and Missouri S&T. They took their match against Northwestern Oklahoma State 3-1 but was swept by Southwest Baptist on their last day. 

 

They will have played one match prior to taking on Tech as they will play Southwestern Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

 

Through one weekend of play, the Lions are averaging 13.6 kills/set and have a .212 team attack percentage. The Lions have seven prominent attackers with Addysen Alvis leading at 64 kills. Ella Breazeale has the highest attack percentage on the team of prominent attackers at .373 (25k-51att-6err).

 

The Lions' primary setter is Brenna Weaver. She currently leads the team with 119 assists of the team's 169 assists.

 

Defensively, the Lions are averaging 15.7 digs/set and 1.3 blocks per set. Four different players have double-digit dig totals with Reagan Ashby leading the team with 68. In terms of blocks so far, Olivia Burmeister leads at 9.0 blocks.

 

The head coach of the Lions is Joshua Moore. He is in his second year at Missouri Southern State with a record of 11-21.

 

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WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE

William Jewell is off to a 1-3 start to their season after playing in the Washburn Invitational. The Cardinals would drop both matches on their first day of play, win their third match against Westminster and later fall to Arkansas Tech 3-1.

 

Their first match will be against Tech on Thursday, but will face Missouri Southern State at 4:30 p.m. shortly after. 

 

Through one weekend of play, the Cardinals are averaging 8.7 kills/set and have a .107 team attack percentage. They have six players with double-digit kills and are led by Macy Bartlett at 32 kills. Kali Adamec has the highest attack percentage on the team at .286 (19k-49att-5err).

 

The Cardinals' contain two setters with active playing time with Alexis Frazier in the lead with 50 assists. Following her is Melanie Gardner at 39.

Defensively, the Cardinals are averaging 12.1 digs/set and 1.4 blocks per set. Madison Roney leads the team in digs with 57. Emily Brannan currently leads the team with 9.0 blocks.

 

The head coach of the Cardinals is Joe Adams. He is in his second year at William Jewell with a 5-26 record.

 

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TRUMAN STATE

The Bulldogs are off to a 1-3 start to their season after playing at the Fort Hays State Tournament. Truman State goes through the first two days of the tournament dropping their matches against Fort Hays State, Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico. They won their final match on the last day against Regis University 3-2.

 

Truman State will have played two matches prior to their match with Tech.

 

Through one weekend of play, the Bulldogs are averaging 11.2 kills/set and have a .171 team attack percentage. They have three players with at least 30 kills and are led by Laci Neece and her 49 kills. Lily Porter has the highest attack percentage on the team among prominent attackers at .242 (31k-99att-7err).

 

The Bulldogs primary setter has been Tori Creason. She currently has 134 of the team's 168 assists.

 

Defensively, the Bulldogs are averaging 16.5 digs/set and 2.3 blocks per set. Three Bulldogs contain at least 40 digs and leading the team at 72 digs is Addy Janssen. Two lead in double-digit blocks and Autumn Erickson is in the lead with 21.0.

 

The head coach of the Bulldogs is David Gannon. He is in his sixth year at Truman State with a record of 40-102.

 

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PITTSBURGH STATE

Invitational host, the Gorillas are off to a 4-0 start to their season after attending the Eckerd Classic in St. Peterburg, Fla. The Gorilla played Wilmington sweeping them 3-0, and went against Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, North Greenville and Eckard taking all of the matches 3-1. 

 

Pittsburg State will have played two matches prior to their match with Tech.

 

Through one weekend of play, the Gorillas are averaging 14.0 kills/set and have a .299 team attack percentage. Six players contain double-digit kills and leading is Maddi LaPointe with 48. LaPointe has the highest attack percentage on the team at .385 (48k-109att-6err).

 

The Gorillas primary setter has been Jesa Wallace. She currently has 94 of the team's 195 assists.

 

Defensively, the Gorillas are averaging 16.8 digs/set and 2.9 blocks per set. Kassidy Nixon leads the team in digs with 68. In the sense of blocks, four players contain double-digits where Crystal Smith leads the way with 20.0 blocks.

 

The head coach of the Gorillas is Megan Besecker. She is in her second year at Pittsburg State with a record of 18-15.