Live Video | Live Stats | 2021 Arkansas Tech Matchday Information
 
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After defeating Southern Arkansas in the first round of the Great American Conference Tournament, No. 3 seed Henderson State will head to Russellville, Arkansas, where it will take on the No. 2 seed Arkansas Tech Golden Suns in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Match time inside Tucker Coliseum is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Henderson State (6-5, 6-5)
The Reddies were in danger of going home early after the first set went in favor of the Muleriders in first round action on Tuesday, but Henderson left no doubt the rest of the way, winning three straight sets to take the round one victory, 3-1. Kaitlyn Sykes and Brittany Barnekoff combined for 10 blocks to lead the charge.
 
With the quarterfinals not until tomorrow, Makenzie Thoman and Violeta Mendoza Quintana spent their day off earning All-GAC accolades. Thoman won the 2021 GAC Defensive Player of the Year along with being selected to the All-GAC First Team while Mendoza Quintana was named the Newcomer of the Year in the conference.
 
In Tuesday's match, junior setter Taylor Scalzi passed Gwen Smith for 11th most set assists in HSU history with 1349 for her career. The Flower Mound, Texas, native needs 35 more to break into the top-10.
 
Dating back to the regular season, the Reddies are sporting a three-match winning streak. Mya Robinson has been on a tear during that span, accumulating 50 kills for a 3.85 kill per set average. Robinson leads Henderson with 142 kills this season.
 
This will be the third meeting between Henderson State and Arkansas Tech this season, with the first two meetings producing instant classics. Both contests went five sets with the Reddies seeing victory in the latest matchup inside the Duke Wells Center on March 26. In that match, newcomer of the year Mendoza Quintana registered a double-double with 24 kills and 25 digs.    
 
Arkansas Tech (6-4, 6-4)
Arkansas Tech closed out its regular season with two thrilling matches, though unsuccessful, as the Golden Suns fell in a pair of five-set matches to Henderson and No. 7 Harding in the season's final two matches. Having already clinched the two seed, ATU was guaranteed a first-round bye in the GAC Championships.
 
Mackenzie Eford, who was a unanimous selection to the All-GAC First Team on Wednesday, is second in the entire conference with an attack percentage of .300 as she has 97 kills to lead the Golden Suns. Eford also has 31 blocks on the season, second to only Emily Ragsdale (41).
 
The Golden Suns are led by third-year head coach Kera Dukic. In each of Dukic's first two seasons at the helm, the Golden Suns made the GAC Tournament only to fall in the quarterfinals both times. This year's No. 2 seed is the highest seed Arkansas Tech has seen under Dukic's command.  
 
Tech is 4-1 on their home floor this season, including posting two shutouts. The one home loss ATU suffered came against then-No. 12 Harding. Arkansas Tech is 19-11 at home against the Reddies in the series.