Already down two sets to Harding University and trailing 18-12 in the third set, Arkansas Tech University’s hopes of a third consecutive regular season Great American Conference volleyball championship appeared to be slipping away on Tuesday night.
With their backs to the wall, the Golden Suns rallied and came away with a 20-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-18, 16-14 victory over the Lady Bisons at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.
Arkansas Tech (21-10 overall, 11-4 GAC) is now part of a four-way tie for first place in the league standings with one regular season conference match remaining. Harding (20-7, 11-4), Ouachita Baptist University (21-6, 11-4) and Oklahoma Baptist University (17-12, 11-4) are the other teams tied for the top spot in the GAC standings.
The Golden Suns’ comeback started with six consecutive points to tie the third set at 18-18. Later in the set, back-to-back kills by Tech’s Kaylee Konsella and a block by Konsella gave the Suns the set and kept them alive in the match.
After winning the fourth set, Arkansas Tech clinched the match in set five on back-to-back kills by Hunter Eshnaur and Konsella.
One of three seniors playing her final home match, Konsella notched a season-high 20 kills on Tuesday. McCall Wilkins (13 kills) and Haley Owen (three kills), Tech’s other volleyball seniors, also contributed to the Golden Suns’ offensive attack.
Eshnaur finished with 18 kills and 20 digs for her 15th double-double of 2016.
Tech’s Amanda Milnick had a season-high 54 assists, 14 digs and four service aces. Madison Nagel (26 digs) and Matti Dix (25 digs) led the Golden Suns’ back row defense.
Arkansas Tech can clinch at least a share of its third consecutive regular season GAC volleyball title with a win at Ouachita Baptist on Thursday, Nov. 10.
First serve at the Sturgis Physical Education Center in Arkadelphia is scheduled for 7 p.m.
