VOLLEYBALL CLOSES FIRST HALF OF GSC WEST DIVISION PLAY WITH THREE-SET HOME SWEEP OVER HENDERSON STATE

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball came into Tuesday’s home match with Henderson State needing a victory to stay close to the leaders in the Gulf South Conference West Division and a victory they got as the Golden Suns posted a three-set sweep over Henderson State (25-22, 25-15, 25-15) on International Student Appreciation Night in Tucker Coliseum.

With the win, Tech improves to 16-9 overall and 4-2 in the GSC, while the Lady Reddies fell to 11-11 overall and suffered its first loss in GSC play to drop its record to 5-1.

In the first set against HSU, Tech fell behind early thanks to an attack error by junior right side hitter Ashlynn Hamrick (Jackson, Mich.), but from that point, both teams forced seven ties. Tech took control of the set following an attack error by HSU’s Tatiana Kuhn and sealed the 25-22 win on a kill by junior middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.), who was named the GSC West Division Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the day.

The Golden Suns never trailed in the second set, but HSU was able to force five ties, until Tech used a kill from sophomore outside hitter Marcela Mascarenhas (Sao Paulo, Brazil), which gave Tech a lead it wouldn’t relinquish as it posted a 25-15 win. In the third set, HSU jumped in front 1-0, but from that point it was all Tech as they scored the next five points enroute to posting the 25-15 win and taking the match.

Leading the way for Tech was sophomore outside hitter Laura Farney (Morton, Ill.), who had 11 kills and 11 digs for her 11th double-double, while Von Lienen added 10 kills and hit .556 and Mascarenhas had 10 kills in the win.

For the match, Tech outdug HSU, 42-29 and recorded seven service aces. HSU finished the night with 13 attack errors, nine service errors and hit .223, while Tech hit .337 and committed 11 attack errors on 98 swings.

HSU was paced by 17 kills from Kuhn, while Robin Law added nine kills and .300 for the Lady Reddies. Bethany Wright, HSU’s two-time All-American libero, was held to just six digs in the match. Wright came into the match averaging nearly 5.8 digs per set.

 Tech will return to action as they begin the second half of GSC West Division play on Thursday, Oct. 15, when they host Ouachita Baptist at 7 p.m. Tech picked up a 3-0 win over OBU in Arkadelphia, Ark., on Sept 22 to open league play.  

Henderson State Box Score

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