VOLLEYBALL RETURNS TO GSC PLAY, POSTS THREE-SET WIN
AT CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

         MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Volleyball returned to Gulf South Conference action Tuesday night by posting a three-set win over Christian Brothers (25-20, 25-22, 25-12) at Canale Arena on the CBU campus.

With the win, Tech improved to 14-8 overall on the season and 3-1 in the GSC West Division, while CBU fell to 13-10 overall and 2-3 in the GSC West standings.

In Tuesday’s match, both teams came out and played up-tempo as it was a close match with the score going back-and-forth until Tech took control of the set by outscoring CBU, 9-5 to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 19-15 lead following a service ace by junior setter Kera Dukic (White Lake, Mich.). Following Tech’s run, the Lady Bucs pulled within 22-20 after a kill by Hanna Orendorff, before Tech scored the final three points to win the set.

The second set was a usual one for the Golden Suns as they took an early lead, but eventually let CBU back into the set. Tech jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but CBU used a 12-5 run to take a 12-10 lead. Following CBU’s run, Tech forced ties at 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 before taking a lead on a kill by freshman outside hitter Carly Florian (Wilmington, Ill.). After Florian’s kill, CBU pulled back within 23-22 on a kill by Hailey Gillis, before the Golden Suns closed the set by scoring the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the third set, Tech jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, but unlike the first two sets, Tech didn’t let the Lady Bucs back into the set. Tech’s lead was never really challenged as they won the final set, 25-12.

Tuesday’s match featured 27 ties and 11 lead changes, including 12 ties and six lead changes in the first set.

Leading the way for Tech was junior middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.), who recorded 20 kills, eight blocks and hit .692 in the match. In addition to Von Lienen, Florian added nine kills, four block assists and hit .368, while sophomore outside hitter Laura Farney (Morton, Ill.) had eight kills and 12 digs in the win.

For the match, Tech recorded 44 kills and hit .386, while CBU had 26 kills and hit .118, including hitting -.097 in the third set. The Golden Suns outblocked CBU, 9 to 3.5.

CBU was paced offensively by Kelly Nolan with seven kills, while Corinne Doder had nine digs and Orendorff added six kills in the loss.

Tech will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a non-conference match against Bacone College at 7 p.m. in Tucker Coliseum on Little Techsters Night.  Following Wednesday’s match with Bacone, Tech will return to GSC action by hosting Arkansas-Monticello in a 7 p.m. match on 80’s Night at Tucker Coliseum.

Christian Brothers Box Score

-- Tech Athletics --