VOLLEYBALL SPLITS ITS TWO MATCHES FRIDAY AT
HENDERSON STATE/OUACHITA BAPTIST INVITATIONAL

         ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball stepped out of Gulf South Conference action here Friday by playing two matches against GSC East Division foes at the Henderson State/Ouachita Baptist Invitational. 

Tech, who is now 18-10 on the season with the split, opened the tournament by suffering a three-set loss to West Alabama (25-23, 25-22, 25-13), before concluding play in the tournament by picking up a four-set win over Alabama-Huntsville (25-21, 26-28,25-16, 25-16).

In the first set against West Alabama (22-5), who is ranked 10th in the latest NCAA Division II South Region poll, it was a hard fought set with the Lady Tigers ultimately winning. Both teams had plenty of chances to take the lead and run with it, but there were many ties and just as many lead changes. It was even tied as late as the 23-23 point after a kill by Ana Gabriele Pedrosa. UWA scored the final two points, though, to post the 25-23 win.

Tech jumped out to an early lead in the second set, but UWA once again caught up and made the set a tough one. The set was tied late with either team having a chance of winning, but the Lady Tigers pulled it out 25-22 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. In the third set, UWA controlled from the beginning and never let Tech get comfortable. UWA pushed out to a 17-7 lead before a kill by sophomore outside hitter Marcela Mascarenhas (Sao Paulo, Brazil) helped stop Tech from falling any farther behind. UWA, though, finished the set outscoring Tech, 8-2, to post the 25-13 win and take the match.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap against UAH (8-18 on the season), both teams combined to force 34 ties and 18 lead changes in the four-set match. The Golden Suns played well in all but the second set as the Lady Chargers outhit Tech, .184 to .140 to post a 28-26 win and even the match at a set apiece. In its final two sets, Tech rebounded as they hit .458 and .435 respectively in the third and fourth sets to finish off the Lady Chargers.

For the two matches, Tech was by junior middle blocker and reigning GSC West Division Offensive Player of the Week Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.), who recorded a total of 30 kills, 21 of which came against UAH. In addition to Von Lienen, sophomore outside hitter Laura Farney (Morton, Ill.) had a total of 22 kills, including 13 in the nightcap against UAH, while sophomore libero Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.) had a total of 28 digs and junior setter Kera Dukic (White Lake, Mich.) had 71 assists, including a match-high 49 in the win over UAH.

Tech returns to GSC West Division play on Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the Golden Suns travel to Magnolia, Ark., to face Southern Arkansas in a 7 p.m. contest. Following the SAU match, Tech will return home to host Harding on Thursday, Oct. 22 for “Pink Out Night” at Tucker Coliseum.

         -- Tech Athletics --