Suns Target 10th Straight Win, Record Crowd

The biggest rivalry in Gulf South Conference West Division volleyball will continue tonight when the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns host the Harding Lady Bisons for a 7 p.m. match at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.

Kristy Bayer, Arkansas Tech head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director, has designated the match as “Pack the Stands Night” at Tucker Coliseum.

The Golden Suns will attempt to break the school record for single-match volleyball attendance of 975 that they set last season against Harding.

No admission will be charged. The Chartwells evening meal for students will be served in front of Tucker Coliseum before the match. Students without a meal plan or members of the general public can eat for $5.

“We want to get at least 1,000 fans in Tucker Coliseum on Tuesday,” said Bayer in a news release from the Arkansas Tech Department of Athletics.

Arkansas Tech (14-3 overall, 2-0 GSC) has won nine consecutive matches. The Golden Suns lead the GSC in team hitting percentage (.262), opponent’s hitting percentage (.113) and service aces (130).

Harding (6-7, 1-0) has had a week to prepare for its trip to Russellville. The Lady Bisons opened league play by defeating Southern Arkansas 25-19, 25-20, 25-14 at Rhodes Field House in Searcy last Tuesday.

Tech and Harding have dominated GSC West Division volleyball for more than a decade. They have combined to win 11 of the last 13 GSC West titles, including the last eight in a row.

The Lady Bisons were picked as preseason favorites to win the GSC West in 2010. The Golden Suns were second in that preseason poll.

Fans attending the Tech-Harding match are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the ongoing “Project: Feed Arkansas” campaign by Tech Athletics. Donated items will be forwarded to the Arkansas Rice Depot for distribution to those in need.

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