TECH SET FOR THURSDAY'S GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL
"MATCH OF THE WEEK" AT ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball’s match on Thursday, Oct. 9 at Arkansas-Monticello has been chosen as this week’s Gulf South Conference Volleyball “Match of the Week.” Thursday’s match, which was originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but was moved to accommodate Thursday’s UAM home “GSC-TV Live” Football game with West Georgia, begins at 2 p.m. in Steelman Fieldhouse on the UAM campus.

This is the second consecutive year that the GSC will feature a “Match of the Week.” The “Match of the Week” will highlight teams from around the conference throughout league play, spotlighting one match per week. The weekly GSC volleyball release will take a look at the history of the match-up, along with quote from coaches and player profiles.

“I am excited that the GSC has chosen to once again feature a match of the week this season,” Arkansas Tech Volleyball Head Coach Kristy Bayer said. “It is a great opportunity to showcase the high quality of volleyball in our conference.”

Tech enters Thursday’s match with UAM sitting atop the GSC West Division standings with a 4-0 record and has an overall record of 17-3 on the season after posting a three-set home win Tuesday on “Think Pink Night” over Christian Brothers. The win over CBU improved Tech to 10-0 at home and moved Tech to 14-0 in three-set matches on the season.

On the season, Tech is hitting a GSC-best .272 and is averaging 13.2 kills, 14.2 digs, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 aces per set. In the latest NCAA Division II national statistics, Tech ranks 10th in hitting percentage and 17th in winning percentage.

Leading the way for Tech is sophomore middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.). Von Lienen leads Tech in hitting percentage (.345) and blocking (1.21 bps) and is fourth in kills with 161 (2.56 kps). In addition to Von Lienen, senior outside hitter Racheal Urquhart (Chatham, Ont.) leads the Golden Suns in kills with 175 (2.92 kps) and is second in digs with 162 (2.70 dps), while senior middle blocker Dana Florian (Wilmington, Ill.) is averaging 2.66 kills and 0.79 blocks per set and is hitting .339, which is fourth-best in the latest GSC statistics.   

Meanwhile, UAM enters Thursday’s home match with Tech sporting a 14-9 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the GSC following its five-set loss Tuesday at Harding.

“(UAM Coach) Nicole (Smith) has done a great job this year going out and getting some outstanding players,” Bayer said. “They have many offensive weapons and combined with one of the best setters in the conference in (Maegan) Martin, I believe this is going to be a very competitive match.”

UAM enters the Tech match with a team hitting percentage of .205 and is averaging 11.81 kills, 2.18 aces, 13.98 digs and 1.58 blocks per set. Leading the way for UAM is junior outside hitter Jalynn Thornton. Thornton is averaging 2.95 kills per set and is hitting .237, while junior middle blocker Cayla Knapp is averaging 2.13 kills per set and is hitting .247 and senior setter Maegan Martin is averaging 8.10 assists and 2.40 digs per set and has had 26 service aces.    

Since UAM added volleyball in 2005, the Cotton Blossoms have posted a 51-63 overall record, including finishing with a program-best 17-15 record and a 6-6 mark in the GSC during the 2006 season.

Tech leads the all-time series between the two schools, 4-2 and has won three straight matches in the series since UAM posted a 3-1 win in Monticello over the Golden Suns in 2006. Last season, Tech posted a 3-1 win in Russellville and a 3-0 win in Monticello.

Following Thursday’s match with UAM, Tech will face St. Leo’s [FL] in a non-conference match on Saturday, Oct. 11 in Arkadelphia, Ark., at the Duke Wells Center on the campus of Henderson State University.

          GSC Volleyball "Match of the Week" Preview

         -- Tech Athletics --