Control of the 2012 Great American Conference volleyball championship race will be on the line when the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns host the Harding Lady Bisons at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Tuesday, Oct. 30.
Control of the 2012 Great American Conference volleyball championship race will be on the line when the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns host the Harding Lady Bisons at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville on Tuesday, Oct. 30.
First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Admission will be free.
Arkansas Tech and Harding have established themselves as the top two NCAA Division II volleyball programs in Arkansas over the past 15 years.
Harding was Gulf South Conference West Division champion in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Arkansas Tech won the GSC West title in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008 and 2010 before capturing the inaugural Great American Conference volleyball championship in 2011.
The Golden Suns-Lady Bisons volleyball rivalry has gone to a new level during the GAC era. Each of their four meetings over the past two seasons have gone the full five sets.
Arkansas Tech won all three meetings last season — two in the regular season and one in the championship match of the GAC Tournament. The Suns did not lose a match to a GAC opponent in 2011. They were 16-0 in league play during the regular season and 3-0 in the postseason tournament.
Harding handed the Golden Suns their first-ever loss in GAC play earlier this season by defeating Tech 25-16, 24-26, 18-25, 26-24, 15-12 in Searcy on Sept. 18.
One month and 12 days later, the rematch finds both teams on a roll.
The Lady Bisons (22-6 overall, 11-0 GAC) have won eight consecutive matches, while the Golden Suns (23-7, 9-1) have won six straight matches.
Arkansas Tech will wear special edition jerseys during Tuesday’s match that will be auctioned off to benefit Special Olympics, the 2012-13 primary charitable beneficiary of Tech Athletics. Silent auction tables will be located in the corridor of Tucker Coliseum before and during the match.
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