Arkansas Tech University picked up two victories and suffered two defeats during the volleyball season-opening Christian Brothers University Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Memphis, Tenn.
The Golden Suns (2-2) will participate in a two-day event hosted by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10.
Tech’s first home match of the 2016 volleyball season is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13, when the Suns will welcome Southern Arkansas University to Tucker Coliseum in Russellville for a 6 p.m. Great American Conference match.
Match One: Tech 3, St. Joseph’s 1
Hunter Eshnaur’s double-double of 12 kills and 13 digs lifted Arkansas Tech to a 18-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-17 win over St. Joseph’s College on Friday.
McCall Wilkins had 10 kills for the Golden Suns. Amanda Milnick notched 26 assists and Sarah Rosinke made 23 assists. Madison Nagel led Tech’s back row defense with 16 digs, while Matti Dix recorded 13 digs.
Match Two: Tech 3, Barton 2
Milnick served up back-to-back aces late in the fifth and final set to propel Arkansas Tech to a 25-18, 27-25, 25-27, 15-25, 15-13 win against Barton College on Friday.
The Golden Suns trailed 12-10 in the fifth set before a Milnick kill pulled them within one point of the lead. Milnick then delivered consecutive aces to give Tech the lead for good. Eshnaur scored the clinching point on a kill.
Eshnaur finished with 15 kills and 13 digs. Wilkins (11 kills), Rosinke (20 assists), Nagel (20 digs) and Lauren Rodemers (six blocks) were also among the Golden Suns’ statistical leaders in the victory.
Match Three: TAMU-Kingsville 3, Tech 0
Texas A&M University-Kingsville edged Arkansas Tech 25-22, 25-23, 25-22 on Saturday.
Eshnaur had 10 kills, Rosinke dished out 17 assists and Nagel collected 12 digs for the Golden Suns.
Match Four: Christian Brothers 3, Tech 2
Christian Brothers’ Emma Lenoir made 19 kills to lead the Lady Buccaneers to a 25-13, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-12 win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday.
Eshnaur (13 kills) and Milnick (10 kills) paced the Golden Suns’ offensive attack. Rosinke and Milnick had 21 assists apiece. Nagel was credited with 23 digs, while Dix notched 17 digs. Eshnaur added 14 digs for her third double-double of the weekend.
