VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN THREE SETS TO ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball returned to Gulf South Conference action here Thursday evening by dropping a three-set decision to Arkansas-Monticello (25-23, 25-20, 30-28) on 80’s Night at Tucker Coliseum.

With the loss, Tech falls to 15-8 overall and 3-2 in GSC West Division play, while UAM improves to 8-12 overall and 3-2 in the West Division.

The Golden Suns, who were playing its third match in the last three days, were never  able to get into a rhythm against the Cotton Blossoms as they hit .269 for the match, committed 15 attack errors and watched UAM collect seven service aces and 11 attack errors.

In the first set, Tech trailed by as much as five points at 18-13, before outscoring the Cotton Blossoms, 10-5, to tie the set at 23. UAM, though, rebounded and scored the final two points thanks to a kill by Sara Kindred and an attack error by redshirt sophomore outside hitter Kelly O’Malley (Billings, Mont.) to post a 25-23 win.

Tech opened the second set scoring three of the first four points, before UAM used a 9-3 run to push out to a 10-6 lead. The Cotton Blossoms eventually pushed its lead to 21-12, before Tech scored eight of the next 11 points to pull within 24-20 following an attack error by Kindred. Tech wouldn’t get any closer as UAM closed out the set on an assisted block to earn a 25-20 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

          UAM pushed out to an 8-5 lead and led 21-13, before Tech used an 8-0 run to tie the set at 21. From that point, neither team was able to seize momentum as the lead changed hands on seven different occasions until UAM closed out the match with back-to-back kills from Mallory Storm and Amanda Dills to post the 30-28 win and snap Tech’s two-match winning streak. In the third set, both teams blitzed the nets as UAM hit .341 and Tech hit .268.

Leading the way for Tech was junior right side hitter Ashlynn Hamrick (Jackson, Mich.), who recorded 16 kills and hit .433. In addition to Hamrick, junior middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.) had 12 kills and hit .320, while sophomore outside hitter Laura Farney (Morton, Ill.) posted a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs in the loss.

Defensively, sophomore outside hitter Marcela Mascarenhas (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the way with 14 digs, while sophomore libero Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.) added 13 digs.

UAM was paced by Cayla Knapp, who recorded 12 kills and hit a match-high .611. Dills added 11 kills, while Storm had 10 kills and hit .333 in the win.

Tech will return to action next Tuesday, Oct. 13, when they remain home to host Henderson State in a 7 p.m. GSC match at Tucker Coliseum. The match will mark Tech’s final match in the first-half of GSC West Division play.   

Arkansas-Monticello Box Score

-- Tech Athletics --