Tweet #theGAC  HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – In Thursday’s opening Great American Conference Volleyball Championship quarterfinal matches from the Bank OZK Arena, Arkansas Tech and Southwestern Oklahoma State each scored three-set victories to reach Friday’s semifinals.
 
In the first quarterfinal, Arkansas Tech (20-7) defeated Henderson State (21-9)  - 25-23, 25-20 and 25-23 - to reach the semifinals for the eighth time in 11 years. First-Team All-GAC selection Tymber Riley led the offense with 13 kills. She added 13 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.
 
Haylee Paladini hit .296 and added 10 kills. Madison Grantham collected 18 digs and Brianna Merkel tallied 36 assists and 16 digs. In defeat, GAC Defensive Player of the Year Makenzie Thoman picked up a match-high 19 digs for the Reddies and First-Team outside hitter Violeta Mendoza Quintana registered 11 kills.
 
In the second contest, the Bulldogs (20-7) limited the Savage Storm (8-19) to a -.035 attack percentage en route to a 25-16, 25-16, 25-10 victory. The win gave the Bulldogs their third 20-win season in the last seven years.
 
Chezney Nielsen, 12, and Lacy Mott, 10, reached double figures in kills with Samantha Kuzma and Mackenzie Harless combined for 14 kills and a .407 attack percentage. Terez Chavez finished with 34 assists and 11 digs while Sophia DeSantiago picked up a match-high 18 digs. For the Savage Storm, Caroline Griffith notched six kills and three blocks while Ruthie Forson added 15 assists, six kills and five digs.
 
The Golden Suns and Bulldogs will start at 3:30 p.m. The match streams on GACSportsNetwork.com. In the regular season, SWOSU defeated Arkansas Tech, 3-0, at home, on October 16. The two have split their two GAC Championship meetings with the last occurring in 2016.