ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State's amazing comeback attempt fell just short on Thursday, as Arkansas Tech fended off two match points to win a five set thriller 3-2 (25-15, 25-21, 21-25, 23-25, 17-15).

Seniors Courtney Bolf and Adrianna Hartmann gave the Reddies stellar performances as Bolf turned in a 22-kill, 18-dig night and Hartmann finished with 15 kills and eight blocks. Sabrina Show, Abby Blackburn, and Taylor Scalzi all notched double-doubles. Kenzie Thoman led HSU defensively with 21 digs, while Matti Fairchild provided much needed depth with 11 digs of her own. 

Henderson resumes GAC play next Tuesday with a matchup versus the Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. in Magnolia, Arkansas.

SET ONE
Following an ace from Scalzi to start the match, ATU used an early 5-1 burst to gain a three-point lead. While Henderson rallied to make it a one-point game, 6-5, a lengthy 8-3 run from the Golden Suns gave them a comfortable 14-8 advantage. Kills from Tyasia McGruder and Scalzi halved the deficit at 14-11, but Arkansas Tech ripped off an 8-0 run and led 22-11. ATU cruised to a 1-0 lead, 25-15.

SET TWO
Despite the Reddies taking a 2-0 lead and a 4-2 lead, they were unable to gain meaningful separation from their conference foes as the set remained tight at 12-12. A kill from Hartmann gave HSU a brief 13-12 advantage, but the Golden Suns responded with a 4-0 spurt to take a 16-13 lead. Henderson trimmed the deficit to one at 17-16 and 18-17, but was unable to tie or take the lead as ATU pulled away to take the set, 25-21.

SET THREE
The beginning of the third set was marked by back-to-back scoring from both teams. With the game tied 5-5, HSU and ATU alternated five 2-0 spurts that ended when a 3-0 Reddies run put Henderson in front 12-11. Neither team was able to build more than a two-point lead, however, as the set wound to a close with Arkansas Tech in front 20-19. When they needed it most, Henderson went on a 6-1 run that included four kills from Bolf to make it a 2-1 match, 25-21. 

SET FOUR
Similarly to the third set, the fourth was a tight affair early on as there was little to differentiate two of the league's best teams. Trailing 9-7, the Reddies seemed to have grabbed the momentum after kills from Show and Hartmann highlighted a 4-0 run, but Arkansas Tech pulled even at 12-12. After HSU and ATU alternated five points, Arkansas Tech put together what looked to be a match-deciding 6-0 run, which put them in front 20-15. Henderson refused to back down, however, and went on a 7-2 run of its own to pull even at 22-22. With the set and match hanging in the balance, the Reddies turned to Hartmann and Bolf who put the Reddies in front, and put the set away, 25-23. 

SET FIVE
In the shortened fifth-set, it was Arkansas Tech who got on the board first in a big way to the tune of a 7-1 lead. Following a well-timed stoppage from HSU's staff, the Reddies got back-to-back kills from Bolf and a perfectly placed ace from Fairchild to make the score 7-5. With the Golden Suns up 11-7, HSU used stellar team defense to cut the deficit to one, 12-11. A kill from Hartmann tied the score 13-13 and another kill from Bolf put HSU in front 14-13. Needing just one point, HSU could not close the door, as ATU tied the score 14-14. The Reddies had another chance to complete the comeback moments later when they held a 15-14 advantage, but again were unable to do so, as three-straight points from the Golden Suns gave them the set, and the match, 17-15.