HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Arkansas Tech, the regular-season champion and top seed, defeated Harding in four sets on Friday at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena to advance to the finals of Great American Conference Volleyball Championships for the fourth consecutive year.
In the opening set, the Golden Suns (28-5) closed out the set by scoring 10 of the final 13 points to win 25-18. Harding (20-9) grabbed the lead for good early in the second set to level the match. Tech never trailed in the third set to regain the lead. The fourth set featured seven ties before the Golden Suns scored five of six points late in the set to secure the win.
ATU-HU BOX SCORE || PHOTO GALLERY
Kaylee Konsella led four from Arkansas Tech to reach double figures in kills with 17. She hit .382. McCall Wilkins contributed with a .500 attack percentage and 11 kills. GAC Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Madison Nagel collected 29 digs and GAC Setter of the Year Sierra Nighswonger handed out 49 assists.
In ATU’s two GAC Championship victories, Nighswonger has averaged 12.14 assists per set; Nagel has averaged 6.71 digs per set and both Wilkins and Konsella have registered attack percentages above .400.
Harding’s First-Team All-GAC selections Liv Savage and Taryn Eubank led the way for the Lady Bisons. Savage hit .478 with 14 kills, three aces and five blocks. Eubank registered a double-double with 44 assists and 14 digs. Erica Heim added 14 kills and 13 digs.
The Golden Suns (28-5) won their 20th consecutive match overall and their fourth straight against the Lady Bisons. They will face Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m. on Saturday eyeing their third GAC Tournament title in four years. The Crimson Storm own the last win against the Golden Suns, a five-set victory on September 26. The GAC Sports Network will stream the match at
GACSportsNetwork.com.