ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

ATHLETICS 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2008
Contact: Ben Greenberg, SID (479) 968-0645

TECH VOLLEYBALL IMPROVES TO 11-1 WITH ITS THREE-SET
HOME WIN OVER SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Arkansas Tech Golden Sun Volleyball team improved its mark to 11-1 on Wednesday night at Tucker Coliseum against the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs. The Golden Suns defeated SOSU in straight sets (25-21, 25-9, 25-16).

Tech, who improved to 6-0 at home this season, has won all six of its home matches in three sets and is 8-0 in three-set matches.

“We were very strong offensively tonight,” said Tech head volleyball coach Kristy Bayer. “Kayla Allison did a fantastic job of running our offense. We had a lot of weapons we could go to tonight and they (SOSU) couldn’t just target one individual.”

Tech’s offense hit a season-high .456 in the 75 minute match. In the final two games, Tech hit .533, including hitting .632 in posting a 25-9 win in the second set.

Leading the way offensively for Tech was senior middle blocker Dana Florian (Wilmington, Ill.), who 12 kills and hit .611. In addition to Florian, sophomore middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.) and freshman outside hitter Laura Farney (Peoria, Ill.) each added nine kills each. Von Lienen hit .600 and added six blocks, including three solo blocks.

Senior setter Kayla Allison. (Tulsa, Okla.), the school’s all-time assists leader, added 33 more to her career total against SOSU. Freshman Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.), who was named this week’s Gulf South Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week, led the squad with a match-high 13 digs.

Tech had had nine service aces in the match and also recorded seven total blocks, including four solo blocks.

Emily Walter led SOSU (5-6 on the season) with eight kills, while Kacia Sandburg had seven kills and Maddie Cummins notched a team-best six digs in the Bulldogs loss.

“It was a good win tonight for us against a quality Division II program,” Bayer added.

The Golden Suns will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 16 when they host John Brown University at 7 p.m. non-conference match at Tucker Coliseum.

Southwestern Oklahoma Box Score  

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