Harding University became the first volleyball team in almost two months to defeat Arkansas Tech University by earning a 22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 28-26 victory over the Golden Suns at Rhodes Fieldhouse in Searcy on Tuesday night.
The loss snapped Arkansas Tech’s 18-match winning streak and at least delayed the Golden Suns’ celebration of an outright regular season Great American Conference championship.
Arkansas Tech (24-6 overall, 14-1 GAC), already assured of at least a share of the league title, can claim it outright with either a win over Ouachita Baptist University or an Oklahoma Baptist University loss to Southern Nazarene University on Thursday, Oct. 12.
The Golden Suns’ match against Ouachita will begin at 6 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville. No admission will be charged. It will be their final match of the regular season.
Hunter Eshnaur led Tech’s offensive attack at Harding with 15 kills. Katie Huff added 13 kills, while Kaci Jackson notched 10 kills and 12 digs.
Sarita Stegall made 43 assists and 12 digs for the Golden Suns. Madison Nagel led the Arkansas Tech back row defense with 21 digs.
Zoe Hardin led the Lady Bisons (15-14, 9-6) with 15 kills.
Tuesday marked the Golden Suns’ first loss since a Sept. 18 setback against the University of Central Missouri.
