PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Golden Suns open up their second week of the season 2-0 in the Gorilla Classic. Tech was able to sweep both games against Missouri Southern State and William Jewell.
MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE
The Suns start their time at the Gorilla Classic winning their match against Missouri Southern State 3-0.
The Lions scored first in set one with a kill from their leading outside hitter, Addysen Alvis. Tech came quickly after to lead 2-1. The scoring went heavily back-and-forth until the Suns went on a four-point run to take it 13-8. The Suns were able to take a seven-point lead at 16-9, and later won set one 25-19.
Tech took the momentum to run through set two at a quick pace. A kill by Henley Hooks allowed the Suns to score the first point. Though the Lions were able to grab their point from a Tech service error, the Suns were able to make a comeback and grab a seven-point run to lead 8-1. The Suns were able to create a wide point gap up to 20-10. MSSU gained one more point, but the Suns took off going on a five-point run and ended the set 25-11. This set had the Suns total 16 kills and one error to make a .577 attack percentage.
The Suns took a quick lead for set three and led 6-3 but came to a halt from a kill by the Lions. MSSU went on a six-point run and took the lead 9-6. A kill by Sammie Smith allowed Tech to gain traction and later take the lead at 12-11. Both teams were able to maintain the same energy to make a tie at 16-16, but the Lions were tripped by the Suns as they took a five-point run and led 20-16. With a final kill by Henley Hooks, the Suns took set three 25-19, once more.
Henley Hooks was the Suns' leading attacker at 13 kills, followed right after with Erika Hernandez at 10. Kenzie Garret led in team assists at 21, and libero Karis Brinlee as the dig leader with 12.
WILLIAM JEWELL
A week off the Washburn Invitational led to the Golden Suns and Cardinals in a rematch. The Suns were able to take the match 3-0.
The Cardinals started set one leading 4-0 and was intervened with a kill by Suns' Karlly Dillard to gain their first point. William Jewell maintained a lead up until mid-set when back-to-back kills by Sammie Smith and BryAnna Young helped the Suns tie it 9-9. From there, the Suns were able to create a gap in the score and led at 16-11. They later went on a five-point run to jump ahead at 22-16, and was able to capture set one 25-17.
The Suns brought the heat for set two and started off with a 10-0 run. The Cardinals were unable to catch up with the run of the Suns where the score gap stayed in a 10-point difference. They created up to a 14-point score gap. Tech sat in a comfortable position the rest of the set and won 25-13.
Set three had both teams maintaining a steady scoring where the highest score gap was within a three-point range. Kenzie Garrett started the set with a service ace but the Suns were stalled as the Cardinals swept in for a four-point run to take the lead 4-1. The Suns answered back with a four-point run as well to take the lead 5-4. Scoring continued to stay back-and-forth where the Suns maintained the lead. William Jewell jumped back into a four-point run towards the end of the set and took a one-point lead 21-20. The set ended toe-to-toe but the Suns were able to prevail and won set three 26-24.
Three Golden Suns were offensively and defensively scoring leaders for both games played today. Henley Hooks led the Suns in kills at 11, as well as Kenzie Garrett leading in assists at 23. Libero Karis Brinlee led the team with 12 digs.
UP NEXT
The Golden Suns continue the Gorilla Classic tournament tomorrow on Friday, September 4. Their first match will be against Truman State at 9 a.m. and their second will be against Pittsburg State at 2 p.m.
