HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Arkansas Tech, the top seed and reigning Great American Conference Volleyball Tournament champions, advanced to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year as the Golden Suns beat eighth-seeded Southwestern Oklahoma State in three sets in Thursday's third quarterfinal match from the Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
In the opening set, Arkansas Tech (27-5) raced out to a 9-3 lead en route to taking the set, 25-16. The Golden Suns out-hit the Bulldogs (8-19) by a .211 to .051 margin. First-Team All-GAC outside hitter Emily Todd registered four of her team-high 12 kills in the set.
ATU-SWOSU BOX SCORE || PHOTO GALLERY
The Golden Suns took set two by the same 25-16 margin. Kaylee Konsella's five kills without an error contributed to a team attack percentage of .350. In the closeout set, they increased their attack percentage up to .378. Konsella collected five additional kills as she finished with 12 kills and a .478 attack percentage. GAC Setter of the Year Sierra Nighswonger finished with 36 assists and 10 digs and GAC Defensive Player of the Year Madison Nagel totaled a match-high 18 digs.
SWOSU's Carly Zak registered a match-high 14 kills.
Arkansas Tech will take on the winner of the Harding-Ouachita Baptist match in Friday's second semifinal, set for 6 p.m. The Golden Suns and Lady Bisons have faced off in the final of the previous three GAC Volleyball Championships. This season, Tech won both of its matches against both possible opponents. The GAC Sports Network will carry the match at GACSportsNetwork.com.