GOLDEN SUNS VOLLEYBALL IMPROVES TO 5-0 WITH ITS
THREE-SET HOME WIN OVER ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball concluded its season-opening five match homestand here Tuesday by posting a hard-fought three-set win (25-16, 25-11, 25-20) over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in non-conference action at Tucker Coliseum.

Tech, who has started 5-0 for the first time since the 1999 season when they began the year with a 7-0 record, used solid defense that limited UAPB to an .046 hitting percentage and strong serving that saw the Golden Suns record a season-high 14 aces.

“It was a good win tonight,” Tech Head Volleyball Coach Kristy Bayer said. “A lot of our younger players were given an opportunity to play for us and they did a nice job. I thought we played well defensively.”

Freshman libero/outside hitter Marcella Mascarenhas (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the way for the Golden Suns offensively with 10 kills and a career-best six service aces. In addition to Mascarenhas, freshman middle blocker Allie Rankin (Richardson, Texas) added seven kills and senior setter Kayla Allison (Tulsa, Okla.)  notched 15 assists, moving her to within 14 of the school’s all-time assist mark of 4,233, which is held by former Golden Sun Kristen Scroggins (1997-00).

Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.), who was named this week’s Gulf South Conference West Division Defensive Volleyball Player of the Week, hit a game-high .556 as she had five kills and one solo block in the match.

UAPB, which fell to 0-4 on the season, was led offensively by Jasmine Jacobs and Tina McGowan who each totaled five kills. Gabrielle Jacobs recorded eight assists for the Lady Lions in the loss.

“This was the best UAPB team I’ve seen in my years at Tech,” added Bayer. “It was good to get a win against a much improved team.”

Another freshman who played a good match according to Bayer was libero Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.). Benda paced the Golden Suns with a career and match-high 10 digs and also added four service aces.

“Brennae (Benda) did a great job for us on serve receive and just being a good all-around libero tonight,” Bayer said.

Tech will return to action this weekend when they travel to Bolivar, Mo. to compete in the Southwest Baptist Bearcat Invitational. The Golden Suns are slated for matches at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5 and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6. On Friday, Tech will play Missouri S&T and Southwest Baptist and then will face Rockhurst College and Wayne [NE] State on Saturday.

Tech-Arkansas-Pine Bluff Box Score

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