Southern Arkansas University upset top-seeded Arkansas Tech University 21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 in the semifinal round of the Great American Conference Volleyball Tournament at Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs on Friday night.
The loss likely means the end of the season for the Golden Suns (26-7), who are unranked in the NCAA Division II Central Region poll and thus needed to win the GAC Tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Arkansas Tech was the regular season champion of the GAC.
Katie Huff made 16 kills, Hunter Eshnaur notched 11 kills and 19 digs and McCall Wilkins accumulated 10 kills for the Golden Suns on Friday. Sarita Stegall contributed 43 assists and 11 digs, while Madison Nagel (20 digs), Colleen Wooten (17 digs) and Kaci Jackson (13 digs) also made contributions to Tech’s back row defense.
Serena LeDuff had 19 kills and 14 digs to lead the Lady Muleriders (20-13) to victory.
Southern Arkansas will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the GAC Tournament championship match on Saturday. It is the first appearance in the GAC finals for either program.
