Hannah Wuest’s goal for her first season as head volleyball coach at Arkansas Tech University is to lead the Golden Suns to their first Great American Conference Tournament appearance since 2022.
Doing so would require Arkansas Tech to exceed expectations. Only the top eight teams in the final conference standings will advance to the postseason. The Golden Suns are picked by GAC head coaches to finish ninth.
“The standard is the standard,” said Wuest, who was an assistant coach at Ferris State University (Mich.) before accepting the head coach position at Arkansas Tech. “We’re not going to win every drill, and I don’t expect us to win every drill, but let’s be in pursuit of trying to win everything.”
The Golden Suns’ 2025 roster consists of 11 returning players and eight newcomers.
“Blending those two groups has been really cool,” said Wuest. “My upperclassmen have done a really good job of not making it feel like it’s upperclassmen versus freshmen or returning players versus newcomers. They love to compete in the gym. I’ve started a new thing where I make them write down their wins and losses. I think they’re becoming more competitive. That’s been a big emphasis this fall.”
Wuest has worked to build trust with her players since her arrival at Arkansas Tech last spring.
“Spend time with them,” said Wuest when asked how she is accomplishing that. “They just want to hang out with you, so every time one of my players comes in my office they get a piece of chocolate and sit down so I can learn more about their families, where they came from and what drives them. I don’t coach any two players the same way. I feel like spending time with them allows me to learn how I can bring out the best in them.”
Wuest anticipates team leaders will include junior outside hitter Savannah Meyer of Lake St. Louis, Mo., who was an All-GAC honorable mention selection for ATU in 2024; junior right side hitter Henley Hooks of Benton, who recorded 311 kills last season; and senior outside hitter Millie Allgood of Sherwood, a transfer from NCAA Division I member East Texas A&M University.
“She has completely taken over the leadership,” said Wuest when speaking of Allgood. “She only has a few months of college left, and she wants to be great. She is putting a lot into it.”
Arkansas Tech will begin its 2025 volleyball season by competing in the Fort Hays State University Tiger Invitational in Hays, Kan., on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6.
After playing their first 11 matches away from home, the Golden Suns will make their 2025 Tucker Coliseum debut when they host the University of Arkansas-Monticello for a 6 p.m. GAC match on Thursday, Sept. 25.
Learn more and follow live coverage of ATU volleyball matches at https://arkansastechsports.com/sports/womens-volleyball.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
