VOLLEYBALL SET TO OPEN ITS 2008 SEASON BY ITS OWN TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The 32nd season of Arkansas Tech Volleyball will get underway on Friday, Aug. 29, as the Golden Suns host the fourth-annual Super 8 Spikefest at Tucker Coliseum.

Tech will open at 1 p.m. on Friday against Drury University. Other teams participating are Alabama-Huntsville, Cameron University and Felician College.

Each team will play four matches via round-robin format in the two-day event. In addition to Friday’s opening match, Tech will also play at 7 p.m. Friday against Cameron. Saturday’s slate for the Golden Suns consists of a 1 p.m. match against Alabama-Huntsville and a 5 p.m. contest with Felician College.

Tech has a record 7-5 in the three previous Spikefests.

“We’re excited to host the fourth annual Spikefest Invitational”, said Tech head coach Kristy Bayer. “It’s a great event that brings in top-notch competition. It’s an excellent way to open our season.”

          Bayer is entering her 5th season at the helm of the Golden Suns. She has compiled an 80-58 season through the first four campaigns.

          The Golden Suns return a number of key players from last year’s 22-13 squad that finished third in the Gulf South Conference West Division. Senior setter Kayla Allison (Tulsa, Okla.) begins the season just 96 assists shy of the school’s all-time assists record. Allison, who was one of three Golden Suns named a Preseason All-GSC West Division selection, was also named a First-Team All-GSC selection in 2007 after being a second-team honoree the past two seasons.  Senior middle blocker Dana Florian (Wilmington, Ill.) and senior outside hitter Rachel Urquhart (Chatham, Ont.) were the other Golden Suns named Preseason All-GSC West Division honorees.  Sophomore Ashley Camp (Conway, Ark.) set the school’s single-season dig record as a freshman and sophomore middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.)  was named the GSC West Division Freshman of the Year in 2007.

          “We’re looking forward to the 2008 season”, said Bayer. “We have been practicing since Aug. 11. We have been doing a lot of 6 on 6 drills because we have a large squad this year. We’re ready to see another team across the net.”

          Live stat for all matches of the 2008 Super 8 Spikefest Invitational, along with tournament box scores will be available at http://athletics.atu.edu.

           2008 Golden Suns Spikefest Schedule

 Friday, August 24

 Match 1 -     Alabama-Huntsville vs. Felician College        11 a.m.       

 Match 2 -   Arkansas Tech vs. Drury                          1 p.m.

 Match 3 -     Cameron vs. Felician College                        3 p.m.

 Match 4 -     Drury vs. Alabama-Huntsville                       5 p.m.         

 Match 5 -   Arkansas Tech vs. Cameron                     7 p.m. 

 Saturday, August 25

 Match 6 -     Alabama-Huntsville vs. Cameron                  9 a.m.

 Match 7 -     Felician College vs. Drury                             11 a.m.

 Match 8 -   Arkansas Tech vs. Ala.-Huntsville             1 p.m.

 Match 9 -     Cameron vs. Drury                                      3 p.m.

 Match 10 -  Arkansas Tech vs. Felician College           5 p.m.   
     

          -- Tech Athletics --