As many of you know by now, our beloved Golden Suns under Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach Kristy Bayer along with the numerous assistant coaches travel an intense road that starts when the previous season ends.

For Bayer and the Golden Suns, that road has miles left to be traveled.

After winning three-consecutive games in two days that ended last Saturday, the Golden Suns earned the title of GAC Champions after a nail-biting five-set thriller against rival Harding.

Following the tournament Golden Suns’ seniors; libero Brennae Benda of Woodstock, Ill, and outside hitters Thabata Galvao from Sao Paulo, Brazil and Laura Farney of Morton, Ill. earned GAC All-Tournament Team honors.

Arkansas Tech’s Golden Suns became the first team in the newly formed Great American Conference to win the title, but because this is the first year in the league was not automatically qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament.

“I am extremely proud of this group of players. It was a complete team effort throughout the entire tournament and our seniors, in particular, were great emotional leaders in helping us pull through,” said Coach Bayer after the Tournament.

The fans in attendance were in full support of the Golden Suns, and players and coaches alike couldn’t thank the fans in attendance enough for their support.

“I’d also like to thank the Tech community because they provided a huge advantage for us all weekend and have done a great job supporting us all season,” said Bayer, who was named this year’s GAC Coach of the Year.

This past Sunday night, Twitter accounts and Facebook status updates, as well as text messages and phone calls spread like small-town gossip throughout the Tech campus.

Senior outside hitter Marcela Mascarenhas from Sao Paulo, Brazil posted, “Regionals, Regionals, Regionals! Bring it!!!!!”

While sophomore setter Amber Cerrillos of Michigan City, Ind. posted, “Ahh So Freaking Pumped! Regionals Here We Come Look Out World We Bout To Merrrk Ya!!”

Also, freshman setter Sierra Nighswonger of Council Post, Ia. posted 35-3, GAC champs. regionals this weekend in Missouri. Golden suns are tearing it up! Elite eight here we come!!”

The Golden Suns earned their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament and first since the 2000 squad earned at-large berth after winning the Gulf South Conference West Division title with a 12-0 record and finishing as GSC Tournament runners-up.

“I am extremely excited and proud of team for earning at at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament,” Bayer said following the announcement of the tournament field on the NCAA website.

“To receive an at-large bid in the first year in our new conference in a very difficult region is a tremendous accomplishment,” she added.

While Tech is excited at the opportunity to show the nation the caliber of athletes we at Tech witness on a week-to-week basis, “We are not happy with just being in the tournament, we want to go there compete against some of the best teams in the country,” said Bayer, who won her 201st match as Tech’s coach in Saturday’s GAC Tournament final against Harding.

Washburn, Tech’s first-round opponent, has a 30-2 overall record and is ranked fourth in the most recent AVCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

Washburn is making its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth overall. The Lady Blues are 9-8 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including advancing to the national semifinals in 2007. 

“Washburn is a very tradition-rich program and it will be a challenge playing them, but we’ll be ready for that challenge,” said Coach Bayer.

Arkansas Tech is set to face Washburn in tonight’s NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament for the first round at the University of Central Missouri  Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo. 

The tournament will begin with four quarterfinal games on tonight, with the regional semifinals scheduled for Friday, and the championship match slated for Saturday.

The winner of the South Central Regional advances to the Elite Eight on Dec. 1-3 at a site to be determined following all the regional action.

Make sure you take the time to visit, www.ncaa.com/sports/volleyball-women/d2 and www.facebook.com/Hudspeth.Press for the latest information about the Golden Suns' road to a possible NCAA Tournament Volleyball Championship.