HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Southern Nazarene University was so close to the school's first NCAA Tournament berth of any kind as it led 11-4 in the fifth set of the Great American Conference Championship. Arkansas Tech though had different plans as ATU closed the match with an 11-2 run to pick up the title and the automatic berth.
 
The Crimson Storm (22-10) had rallied in the second in third sets after dropping the first to lead 2-1 and looked to have things securely in hand at 11-4, but the Golden Suns (29-5) never let it get away.
 
Lexie Matthews recorded a career-high 17 kills a hit .229 to lead the way for SNU. She also had two blocks. Taylor Jacobs and Kaylee Piatt closed out their illustrious careers as Jacobs notched her 10^th double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs while Piatt had 49 assists and eight digs. Jacobs also had six blocks and Piatt had four. Emilee Crawford also closed out her career with 11 kill. Emily Dick had eight kills and seven blocks as well in her final match. Abbey Bell notched a season-high 32 digs while Elyse Berlin had 14 and Dani Chase had 10.
 
The Storm out blocked (13.5-12.0) out dug (81-75) and out hit (.194-.152) Arkansas Tech, but the Golden Suns just found a way to win.
 
Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 10-4 lead and eventually stretched it to 20-10 before SNU closed it to 21-14. The two teams each traded four points to close out the set. There were seven ties in the second set with the final one coming at 18-18 when a Jacobs ace sparked a 7-1 run to close out the set and tie the match at 1-1.
 
The Storm trailed 10-5 early in the third set before an ATU error sparked a 20-7 run by the Storm to take the third set. Southern Nazarene trailed 16-11 in the fourth before a 5-0 run capped by a Dick kill that tied it at 16.  ATU took a 20-17 lead, before SNU used a 5-1 run to lead 22-21. The Suns though closed the set with a 4-1 run to win the set and force the final set.
 
ATU scored the first two points of the fifth, but the Storm unloaded for an 11-2 run to take an 11-4 lead. Tech though answered with its own 11-2 run to put it away and seal the deal.