CLINCHES WEST DIVISION TITLE AND EARNS SIXTH 30-WIN SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY
RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Volleyball closed out its 2010 regular season here Thursday on Senior Night by posting a three-set victory over Henderson State (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) at Tucker Coliseum and clinching its second Gulf South Conference West Division title in the last three years.
Prior to Thursday’s match, Tech honored its three-member senior class of setter Kera Dukic (White Lake, Mich.), right side hitter Ashlynn Hamrick (Jackson, Mich.) and middle blocker Sarah Von Lienen (Lakeland, Tenn.). Over the past four years, the seniors have been a part of two GSC West Division title teams and have helped Tech posted a combined record of 107-35 and qualify for four consecutive GSC Tournaments.
“Our seniors have great heart. Ashlynn was focused and always wanted the ball tonight, while Kera has shown impressive leadership all year and Sarah is one of the best players to ever come through this program and one of the top players in the entire league,” Golden Suns Head Coach Kristy Bayer said following the win.
With the victory, Tech improves to 30-4 overall and 11-1 in the GSC. It marks the sixth time in the program’s history and first time since 2008 that the Golden Suns have won 30 games in a season.
“It feels great to win the West Division title in our last season in the league,” Bayer said. “It has been our focus all year and the girls earned it as they worked extremely hard in the offseason all the way through now.”
Thursday’s match was a tough, hard-fought battle as there were 12 ties and one lead change, which came in the third and final set. Tech finished the match outhitting HSU, .283 to .184.
Leading the way on Senior Night for the Golden Suns were its three seniors as Hamrick recorded 13 kills and hit .524 and became the 12th-member of Tech’s 1,000 Kill Club. In addition to Hamrick, Von Lienen had nine kills, three solo blocks and Dukic recorded her third double-double of the season with 40 assists and 11 digs in the win.
In addition to Tech’s seniors, junior outside hitter Laura Farney (Morton, Ill.), the reigning GSC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, recorded her team-leading 13th double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs, while junior libero Brennae Benda (Woodstock, Ill.) had 17 digs and freshman middle blocker Sara Motsinger (Normal, Ill.) finished the match with 10 kills and a .625 hitting percentage.
HSU (14-13 overall, 5-7 GSC) was paced by the play of Robin Law, who had a match-high 16 kills and added eight digs, while Ashley Totten led the Lady Reddies with 20 digs in the loss.
“HSU is always a tough foe and has one of the top players in our league in Robin Law, so it was a good win heading into next weekend’s GSC Tournament,” the Tech coach added.
On the night, Tech recorded 51 kills, 64 digs and four blocks, while HSU had 31 kills, 54 digs and two blocks. In addition, Tech had six aces and only 15 attack errors.
The Golden Suns will return to action next Friday, Nov. 12 as they open play in the GSC Tournament hosted by East Division champion, West Florida, in Pensacola, Fla. Tech, who is the No. 1 seed from the West Division, will open the tournament at 2:30 p.m. against the East Division’s No. 4 seed.
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