MARSHALL, Minn. - Arkansas Tech volleyball concluded its season on Thursday, as the Golden Suns fell 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-21) to No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Suns finish the season with a 35-1 record and the highest single-season win percentage in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- SMSU (29-3) recorded 12 kills and just one attack error in the first set, while forcing the Suns to commit eight attack errors.
- Arkansas Tech improved its defense in the second set, limiting the Mustangs to a .211 attack percentage. SMSU opened the set with a 7-1 run, however, and never allowed Tech to tie or take a lead.
- The Golden Suns' most efficient game offensively came in the third set, as Tech posted a .351 attack percentage with a match-high 16 kills.
- Tech scored the first three points of the final set and maintained its lead until a 13-3 run by the Mustangs put SMSU in the lead. Southwest Minnesota State later took the set and the match with Taylor Reiss' match-high 17th kill.
- Lexie Johnston led Arkansas Tech with 10 kills, while Tabitha Spray added eight kills and a team-high .429 hitting percentage. Amanda Milnick compiled 26 assists, and Madison Nagel led the defense with 11 digs.
NOTABLES
- The Golden Suns' 35 wins in a season are the most since 2011 and are tied for second most in program history. Tech still currently leads Division II in wins this season.
- Arkansas Tech finishes the season hitting .287 as a team, the second highest mark in school history and highest in Great American Conference history.
- The Golden Suns also set single-season conference records for opponent hitting percentage, kills per set and assists per set.
HEAD COACH KRISTY BAYER
"I told the girls this stage that we played on tonight is what athletes dream of. Although the outcome was not what we wanted, it was a once in a lifetime experience."