ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- Henderson State will host Arkansas Tech University in the first GAC home match of the season Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The last time the Golden Suns visited the Duke Wells Center, the Reddies took three sets out of five. 

Henderson State (6-7, 0-1)

The Reddies went 1-1 in the Union Invitational over the weekend, facing Christian Brothers University and Union University. 

Henderson went five sets against Christian Brothers, and a dominant performance from sophomore outside hitter Christiane Uzoh, who tallied 17 kills and five blocks, led HSU to a 3-2 victory. Uzoh has now racked up 113 kills for the season, averaging 2.57 per set, and has 29 block attempts.

On the net, junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Sykes leads the team with 12 solo blocks and 22 assists, combining for 34 total blocks. Sykes finished the tournament with ten total blocks and four kills. The Reddies are holding opponents to 11.2 kills per set and a .134 attack average.

The most recent meeting between Henderson and Arkansas Tech was in the GAC tournament. The Golden Suns escaped with a 3-0 victory, knocking the Reddies out of the tournament in the first round. HSU has struggled against Arkansas Tech, with the Golden Suns leading the head-to-head matchup 33-22. 

Scouting Arkansas Tech

The Golden Suns are currently 1-0 in conference play after defeating Southern Arkansas 3-0 at home. Arkansas Tech's sophomore outside hitter Maddi Siedenburg finished the match with nine kills against Southern Arkansas, the most on the team. The sophomore has accumulated 98 kills for the season and averages 2.72 per set. 

Arkansas Tech recently hosted the Golden Suns Invitational and finished 1-1 after sweeping Arkansas Pine-Bluff and falling to Quincy 3-0 in the final match. Siedenburg and Heather Thomas led the Golden Suns' attack in the tournament, each recording 15 kills. 

What to Watch For… 

• The Reddies and Golden Suns faced each other three times in 2021, twice in conference play and once in the GAC tournament. Arkansas Tech defeated HSU at home and in the tournament but lost at the Duke Wells Center. The Golden Suns have struggled on the road this season with no wins away from home. 

• Head coach Philip McDaniel is four wins away from reaching 100 wins in his sixth season. Coach McDaniel's overall record coming into this year is 90-47, and after the first 13 matches of this season, he is 96-54. He has not had a losing record for the overall season in the previous five years.