RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Henderson State exacted some payback for an early season defeat on Tuesday evening when the Reddies defeated Arkansas Tech on the road in convincing fashion, 3-1 (24-26, 25-16, 25-21, 25-13).

Six weeks ago, Henderson's comeback against ATU came up just short as the Reddies fell 3-2 at home. On Tuesday evening, however, HSU would not be denied and stormed back behind Courtney Bolf's fifth 20-20 performance of the season. The senior from Fort Worth, Texas finished with 20 kills and 24 digs. Bolf's 24 digs moved her into the top five all-time at Henderson State, while her lone service ace put her in sole possession of the eighth most aces in HSU history. 

Fresh off of a GAC Defensive Player of the Week award, MaKenzie Thoman continued her stellar play from the libero position to the tune of a career-high 35 digs, eclipsing her previous career-best of 32 which was set just two weeks ago. As usual, Abby Blackburn and Taylor Scalzi split the setting duties for the Reddies and combined for 41 of HSU's 50 assists.

Henderson State (17-11, 8-5) has now won nine of its last 11 matches and will return to the Duke Wells Center to face Southern Arkansas on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

SET ONE
Henderson's defense was stout and its offense was balanced early in Tuesday's match as the Reddies received kills from Bolf, Bree Sanders, Tyasia McGruder and Sabrina Show on the way to an early 11-5 advantage. However, back-to-back errors from Henderson State allowed ATU to settle into the match and prevented the Reddies from consecutive points until the Golden Suns whittled the deficit to two, 16-14. A kill from Alex Tyler appeared to give HSU a bit of breathing room with an 18-14 lead, but Arkansas Tech ripped off a 9-2 run to pull in front 23-20. HSU took four of the next five points and tied the set at 24-24, but could not pull in front, as the Golden Suns took the opening frame, 26-24. 

SET TWO
Unfazed by a missed opportunity in the first set, the Reddies used kills from Show, Bolf, and Scalzi to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 9-6 lead early in set number two. From then on, Henderson State did just enough to fight off Arkansas Tech spurts as the Golden Suns pulled within one with the score 10-9 and 14-13. ATU could not tie or take the lead, however, as the Reddies ran away with the second set behind an 11-3 run which tied the match, 25-16. 

SET THREE
Following six combined errors by both teams that pushed the score to 4-4, HSU turned to freshman McKenzie Tuyo, who responded with three-straight kills to help put HSU in front 10-4. Much like the first set, however, the Reddies could not hold on to a comfortable six-point advantage, as Arkansas Tech used a 9-5 run to pull within two at 15-13. After relying on its youth, HSU turned back to senior leader Adrianna Hartmann, who's two kills helped the Reddies build its lead back up to six, 22-16. Although Arkansas Tech cut the lead to three, 22-19, a powerful kill from Bolf finished the set and gave HSU a 2-1 lead, 25-21. 

SET FOUR
With all the momentum on its side, Henderson State came out on fire in the fourth and final set, getting kills from Sanders, Tyler, Tuyo, McGruder, and Bolf on the way to a commanding 13-5 lead. Arkansas Tech did manage a 3-0 spurt to cut its deficit to five, 13-8, but the run was rebuffed by a 4-0 Henderson spurt that gave the Reddies their largest lead, 17-8. The Golden Suns would get no closer than seven points, as the Reddies walked out of Russellville with a win, 25-13.