With 13 regular season conference championships and six NCAA Division II Tournament appearances to its credit, the Arkansas Tech University volleyball program is not accustomed to seeing its name near the bottom of the preseason Great American Conference coaches’ poll.
However, the Golden Suns are picked to finish 11th among the 12 teams in the GAC during the 2024 volleyball season.
Kera Coleman, who is entering her seventh season as Golden Suns head volleyball coach, said her team is using that ranking as motivation.
“This group knows that last year was not at all what this program has represented for years,” said Coleman. “They’re excited to prove some of that wrong and understand that we were rebuilding in terms of having a lot of freshmen on the floor last year. We’re excited, we’re rejuvenated and we’re ready to go.”
Arkansas Tech has 11 returning players and seven newcomers on its 2024 volleyball roster.
“It seems like forever since we last played,” said Coleman. “I’m super ready to get going. Preseason has been wonderful. The girls are so much fun to be around and they are so motivated.”
Coleman said the Golden Suns’ preseason practices have focused on reducing errors. She has intentionally put her players in pressure situations to help prepare them for the moments that decide the outcome of matches.
“Volleyball is such a momentum game,” said Coleman. “When momentum is picking up, it can take off really, really quickly.”
An alumna of Arkansas Tech and former all-conference setter for the Golden Suns, Coleman mentioned three players who have stood out during preparations for the 2024 season: sophomore outside hitter Savannah Meyer of Lake St. Louis, Mo., sophomore right side hitter Henley Hooks of Benton and senior libero Jamie Myrick of Bentonville.
“This group is hungry, determined, positive…they’re just fun,” said Coleman.
Arkansas Tech will begin its 2024 volleyball season by competing in a classic at Pittsburg State University (Kan.) during the weekend of Sept. 6-7.
The Golden Suns will make their home debut when they host Henderson State University for a 6 p.m. GAC match at Tucker Coliseum on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Admission to ATU home volleyball matches is free.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
