Oracle CE August 12, 2021

To speak.

INDEX Events COVID Update Sports

No. 14

Vol. 2

2 3 4

August 12, 2021

Akadelphia announces a $2.5 million park to honor Dr. MLK Jr. Julie Lacy City of Arkadelphia

City officials unveiled plans for a $2.5 million community park honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to Mayor Scott Byrd, “This project may be the most significant addition to making Arkadelphia the community we all have envisioned it could be.” Mayor Byrd, a local dentist, introduced Chairman of the MLK Jr. Park committee Roland Gosey, a local business owner and a member of the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors. In addition, Mayor Byrd recognized Honorary Co-Chairmen, Dr. Fitzgerald Hill and Mitch Bettis; both Arkadelphia natives.

Hill is a 1987 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and served as Assistant Head Football Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for the Razorbacks. Hill was President of Arkansas Baptist College for 10 years.

Bettis graduated from Ouachita Baptist University as well and is President of the Arkansas Business Publishing Group. Byrd stated, “The leadership for this project has deep roots in our community as well as throughout the region. The vision began over 12 years ago. I am fortunate enough to have seen the vision blossom and now become more than a dream. Not only will this park properly memorialize Dr. King’s contributions, it will serve as a legacy for all children, pointing them to a better tomorrow.”

The park will feature a quarter-mile walking path

with educational kiosks that tell the story of the civil rights movement and the life of MLK Jr. Other features include an outdoor community amphitheater, youth empowerment zone, sports courts, play area and walking paths. The amphitheater stage doubles as a splash pad. A large open lawn adjacent to the amphitheater provides ample seating for community events. Arkadelphia City Manager, Gary Brinkley noted the site (previously the Clark County Hospital) serves as a natural gathering space for the city and is ideally situated along Pine Street; one of the city’s primary thoroughfares. Brinkley stated, “This was the former county hospital site where people came to be healed. When the Board of Directors made the promise to place the memorial park on this site, it set in motion a vision of a healed community. We stand behind that decision and have moved forward with the message of A promise made- promise kept. We can’t wait to celebrate this promise delivered.”

Dr. Fitz Hill is developing collations among local community and state leaders to create an alliance of teamwork and financial resources. According to Dr. Hill, “We have selected a theme for our campaign, ‘Teamwork to Make the Dream Work.’ The seed that Dr. King planted decades ago will now have the opportunity to grow and blossom right here in southwest Arkansas.” Hill, who serves on the Arkansas Board of Education,

Photo courtesy of the City of Arkadelphia

The City of Arkadelphia has announced plans for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park Friday, Aug. 6.

has enlisted the support of another Clark County native, Education Secretary Johnny Key, as well as Arkansas MLK Commission Executive Director, DuShun Scarbrough. The dream for this park has unlimited potential not only for the citizens of Arkadelphia but as a must-see attraction along Interstate 30. Other notable attendees at the announcement were members of the regional banking community as well as leadership from Ouachita Baptist University, Dr. Ben Sells, and Henderson State University Chancellor Dr. Jim Borsig along with state and local elected officials.

The park design was developed by Halff Associates of Little Rock and features an elliptical design of pathways and platforms for activities. According to Halff landscape architect,

Sally Horsey “The park is inspired by Dr. King’s 1967 speech, ‘What is your Life’s Blueprint‘ in which he uses the importance of ‘a good solid blueprint,’ to illustrate the significance of planning one’s life.” The goal of the park reflects a commitment to provide a solid foundation.

“Because of the park’s central location, surrounding neighborhoods, schools, churches and businesses have access,” Horsey noted. “The memorial site also provides an educational setting with gathering spaces for schools and civic groups to learn local history. It is a place for the entire community to enjoy the splash fountains, a youth empowerment zone featuring an inclusive play area, basketball courts, and restrooms. Streetscapes will lend themselves to

the idea that the area is for all who wish to learn and communicate the message of Dr. King’s speech to, “Be the best of whatever you are.”

Hill said, "Dr. King's legacy is tied to him planting trees for shade he would never sit under. That’s the definition of sacrifice and Dr. King gave the ultimate.

Assuming the responsibility of Co-Chairman is something I knew would be time-consuming and require a sacrifice of my time. But I am inspired to educate future generations regarding Dr. King’s legacy to reactivate ‘The Dream’.

It is my prayer that this park can serve a major part in unifying our city and state”.

In addition to Chairman Roland Gosey, members of the MLK Park committee include Nikki Chan-

dler, Kyle Jones, Taylor Chaney, Lee McGlone, Martha Dixon, and City Manager Gary Brinkley.

The Clark County Community Foundation (CCCF) an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation is managing contributions throughout the fundraising process. To reach the CCCF, contact Deb Sasser at clarkcounty@arcf.org or log onto the campaign website at www.MLKjrPark.org for contribution details. Don Hale of The Diamond Agency is providing campaign management and marketing services for the project.

Additional information and construction timelines are available by contacting Julie Lacy, Arkadelphia Communications Director, at julielacy@ arkadelphia.gov or by calling (870) 246-9864.

Youth athletic programs at the Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation Center Tierra McCraney Staff Reporter

The Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation Center is hosting a variety of Youth Athletic Programs for the fall, including volleyball, flag football, tackle football, and cheerleading.

The Youth Volleyball Program will consist of three divisions: Little Spike Division for grades 1-2 and Divisions for grades 3-4 and 5-6.

The Little Spike Division will participate in a five-week instruction program beginning Sept.

13. The fee is $35, and a t-shirt is provided.

Grades 3-6 will have an eight-week season with practices beginning Sept.

7. Games will take place from Sept. 20 to Oct. 30.

The fee is $35, t-shirt included.

Flag football, for grades K-6, will be split into three divisions: grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-6. This program will consist of an eight-week season with practices beginning Sept. 13, and games Sept. 27 to Oct. 30.

The fee is $65 and will include a team jersey.

Tackle football, for grades 5-6 is an eightweek season. Practices begin Sept. 13, and games will take place from Sept.

25 to Nov. 6. The fee is $80

and will include a team Jersey.

Youth cheerleading will consist of two divisions: grades 1-3 and grades 4-6. This program is an eight-week season and will involve cheering for the Youth Football Team. The season is from Sept. 13 to Oct. 30, and the fee is $40, t-shirt included.

Registration can be completed in person at the Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation Center, online, or through the mobile app.

The deadline is Aug. 29.

For more information, contact Junior Rodemeyer at 870-246-5499 or junior.rodemeyer@ arkadelphia.gov.

Info from Weather.com

FRI - Aug 13 mostly sunny

SAT - Aug 14

isolated thunderstorms

SUN - Aug 15 mostly cloudy

MON - Aug 16 partly cloudy

TUE - Aug 17 partly cloudy

WED - Aug 18

THU - Aug 19

partly cloudy

partly cloudy

98o 72

93o 71

91o 68

91o 68

91o 69

91o 70

91o 70

Precipitation: 24% Wind: WSW 5 mph Humidity: 63%

Precipitation: 34% Wind:NE 4 mph Humidity: 92%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: NE 6 mph Humidity: 71%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: ENE 5 mph Humidity: 64%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: E 6 mph Humidity: 67%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: SE 5 mph Humidity: 63%

Precipitation: 24% Wind:SE 5 mph Humidty: 73%

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2 News

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Football is in the air Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor

Football is in the air.

From Pee Wee to Varsity it seems the whole town is gearing up for the season.

Summer band has begun, the Tumble and Cheer is very busy and players of all ages are practicing with the pigskin. The first non-conference game for varsity is Friday, August 27 at 7 p.m. at Lafayette County. Pee Wee coaches Quincy Dickins and Chris

Harper tell me that signups are going on now, the cost is $50. The first scrimmage game is Saturday, August 14 at 10 a.m. in Gurdon versus Bauxite and the Pee Wee season kicks off August 28 versus Hampton.

A very large treat is going to be rolling through Gurdon soon.

Union Pacific Railroad's historic engine #4014 known as Big Boy will be making a whistle stop on Thursday, August 26,

between 8:45 and 9:15 a.m. The Big Boy is 132 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds. It is the world's largest steam locomotive. The engine was retired in 1961 after traveling 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years of service.

Many residents and school children turned out for Big Boy's last visit a few years ago and it was amazing. Mark this on your calendar, you won't want to miss it.

Oracle: CE

image: Freepik.com

Fall Events

Henderson State hires Mills as interim associate director of bands Steve Fellers HSU News

Nevada Mills has joined Henderson State University as interim associate director of bands and coordinator of athletic bands.

Mills, a Henderson alumnus, most recently was music coordinator for the Ouachita School District. He has also served as assistant director of bands and marching band director at Ouachita Baptist University, and directed

bands at Mena High School, Lakeside Junior High, and Watson Chapel Junior High.

Mills graduated from Henderson in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental music education. He completed his Master’s Degree in Education at Arkansas State University in 2015.

Marching and concert bands under Mills’s direction have earned first division ratings and sweepstakes awards from

the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association (ASBOA). He has designed marching drills for schools throughout Arkansas, including high schools and collegiate bands.

Mills is a member of the ASBOA, Arkansas Choral Directors Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Beta Mu. His wife Jewlie is an academic advisor at Henderson State.

Special session and vaccines Asa Hutchinson AR Governor LITTLE ROCK – This week, I issued a call for a special session of the General Assembly, and today I’d like to explain why my action was necessary.

In the spring, I signed Act 1002, a law that prohibits a government agency from establishing a mask mandate. That made sense to me at the time because I oppose any governmentissued statewide mask requirement. And now we have vaccines available.

Also, at the time, the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths and hospitalizations was very low. In other words, we were coming out of the pandemic nicely. But as happens in life, everything changed.

The Delta variant, which i s more transmissible

than previous variants, arrived, and our cases, hospitalizations, and COVID-related deaths increased. It became clear to me that the law needed to change, and I actually said I regret signing the bill. That statement created somewhat of a firestorm, but it is important for leaders to adapt and change strategies when the facts change – particularly when you are in an emergency.

With public schools opening for in-person instruction this month, I decided we needed to enact exceptions to Act 1002 to give schools some flexibility regarding face masks in congregate settings, and this should be limited to those students under twelve years of age. This was necessary because those under twelve are not eligible for a vaccine.

I convened the General

Assembly to make this limited exception in order to provide more protection for those under twelve, and the law would leave the final decision in the hands of the local school board.

Pursuant to my call, the General Assembly met and considered the exception but failed to act. This leaves us all with the urgent need to get more of our students, teachers, parents, and community vaccinated. If we can’t provide life-saving vaccines to those under twelve, then we have to form layers of protection around them.

So that will be my focus in the coming days. Perhaps you will join me in one of my Community COVID Conversations – or Town Halls – to respectfully discuss how we can stop this virus with more vaccinations.

Klinger joins Henderson State as new theatre director Steve Fellers HSU News Lacy Klinger joined Henderson State University's faculty this fall as director of theatre.

Klinger has served as theatre program coordinator and associate professor of theatre at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. After earning her MFA in acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Klinger worked in New York City as an

actor, educator, and choreographer.

She has acted in plays and musicals across the country, including New York, Arkansas, Maine, and Utah, and continues to direct and act professionally. She also has extensive training in theatrical intimacy choreography, and most recently choreographed John Cariani’s Love/Sick.

Klinger's areas of expertise are in acting, movement, dance and choreography, and voice and speech.

Klinger has 24 years of dance training including, but not limited to, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and clogging. She taught dance for more than 15 years to children and adults of all ages, and her choreography has won several awards and received recognition at both the regional and national level.

Klinger is also the cofounder of Illyria Theatre Company, a non-profit professional theatre company, and a member of Actor’s Equity Association.

Upcoming Events August 13 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

BadgerFest and Meet the Badgers is your opportunity to meet the young men and women representing Arkadelphia in the fall. The Badger Pride marching band, AHS JROTC, Goza and AHS spirit squads and 8th through 12th grade fall sports teams will all be introduced to Badger fans.

September 15-18 Clark County Fair September 22 Motorcycle Cannonball

Recurring Dog Days of Summer July 20 - August 26 (TWR 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Now showing at the Arkadelphia Arts Center, “Dog Days of Summer,” a collection of dog themed art and objects. Cat art is also included in this fun exhibit. Some of the proceeds from sales will go to the Humane Society of Clark County. Visitors may bring Purina dog and cat food to the center during this show, which will then be donated to the humane society at the exhibit’s conclusion. Other items needed at the shelter include bleach, cat litter, laundry soap, and old towels. Tue, Wed, Thur. (870-245-7982) ♦♦♦ Friday Night Magic The Gathering - Atlas Gaming ♦♦♦ Alcoholics Anonymous hosts two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. ♦♦♦ With Late ‘til 8, local businesses stay open to 8:00 pm so that customers can shop and also win door prizes! this is a monthly event that happens every first Thursday of every month. ♦♦♦ Pediatrics Plus is excited to announce that our brand new facility is now open. Our new facility is located at 702 Hickory Street. The new facility offers includes a Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services that include: ABA, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. In addition, our brand new, state-of-the-art facilities include a House Next Door suite which offers a homey feel for children learning daily living activities like cooking, feeding therapy, making the bed, getting dressed, and more! Other features of the new facility include a new playground, gross motor gym, high stimulation and low stimulation gyms, and a library! Enroll Now to get a spot in our new location! ♦♦♦ Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: • Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo.

• 870-403-2019; Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church.

• 870-403-2019; Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292.

Photo courtesy of HSU News

Oracle:CE

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Attorney General Rutledge announces settlement against Hot Springs woman operating as a money mule Leslie Rutledge AR Attorney General

Says, ‘Those who assist the operators of these scams will be held just as accountable for the fraud’ Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a settlement agreement against a Hot Springs woman, Jean Butler, 73, who facilitated a multi-million dollar international sweepstakes scheme. In the consent judgment, Butler must pay civil penalties and restitution of $100,000.

From 2017-2020, Butler received funds sent to her from victims of the scam and funneled the money to operators of the scheme in Jamaica.

Butler stopped operating as a money mule when the lawsuit was filed in February 2020, and the settlement prohibits her from engaging in similar schemes.

“Jean Butler is now paying for her involvement in a scheme that impacted victims

from across the country and Canada,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “This judgment sends the message that those who assist the operators of these scams will be held just as accountable for the fraud and punished for such behavior.”

In these types of schemes, and in this particular case, the operators, who are often in foreign countries, contact potential victims and say they have won a jackpot or lottery, but must first pay taxes or fees before receiving the prize. The victims are instructed to send this payment to a person in the U.S., commonly referred to as a “money mule,” like Butler. The money mule opens bank accounts and deposits money received from these victims.

The operators then withdraw those funds for themselves. The victims, usually seniors or other vulnerable persons, never receive the promised

prize and discover all too late that the money they sent to the money mule is gone.

Butler had been acting as a money mule in a scheme purporting to be the “Mega Millions” lottery. After opening bank accounts, Butler would inform the bank that she would be traveling out of the country to avoid raising suspicions about the foreign transactions. The banks would eventually suspect fraudulent activity and close the accounts. Butler would then open an account in another bank and continue the activity.

Investigators estimate that over a three-year period, she opened numerous bank accounts and facilitated the transfer of approximately $6 million to the operators of the scheme in Jamaica.

As part of the settlement, Butler must immediately stop operating as a money mule

and she is permanently prohibited from engaging in any schemes within the State of Arkansas or that impact Arkansas consumers. Butler must pay civil penalties totaling $100,000.

The recruitment of money mules is on the rise, often deceptively advertised as “work from home jobs” or “online jobs”, and appear to be attractive options for the elderly or college students to make money easily. It is common for those who participate in money mule activity to not be aware they are facilitating an illegal operation.

If you suspect that you or someone you know may be a victim of money mule activity or may be participating in a money mule scheme, or to file a consumer-related claim with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, call (800) 4828982, email consumer@ arkansasag.gov or visit arkansasag.gov.

News 3

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HOW TO REACH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Arkadelphia Mayor Scott Byrd 700 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-6745 Arkadelphia Treasurer Shacresha Wilson (870) 246-9864 shacresha.wilson@ arkadelphia.gov Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner 414 Court Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-9868 dan.turner@ClarkAR.us Clark County Judge Troy Tucker 401 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-5847 Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson 406 South 5th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-8859 Governor Asa Hutchinson 250 State Capital Bldg.

Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2345

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2007 State Senator Alan Clark P.O. Box 211 Lonsdale, AR 72087 (501) 844-6800 Congressman Bruce Westerman 130 Cannon House Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator Tom Cotton B33 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator John Boozman 1 Russell Courtyard Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4843

Comic by Blanton Matthews

Arkansas Department of Health COVID-19 update

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Editor in Chief: Lance Brownfield General Manager: Keyuna Thrower Oracle Editor: Kaela McKim Sports Editor: Donovan Lee Staff Reporters: Phoebe Darley, Blanton Matthews, Tierra McCraney, Juliann Reaper, Aaron Weatherford, Jaylon McKewen, Madison Hardcastle, Haven Hughes Adviser: Steve Listopad

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4 Sports

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/16 AHS football benefit game vs. Lake Hamilton

8/27 AHS football vs.

Camden Fairview (non-conference)

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Oracle: CE

Go-Devils go hard into 2021 season Aaron Weatherford Staff Reporter Since Kyle Jackson took the reins at Gurdon, his expectations have always been high for his Go-Devil program. Those expectations include: winning a conference title and winning a state championship.

Last year, Gurdon won its second conference title in two years but fell short again for a second straight year in the semi finals. They finished the 2020 season 10 and two with losses to Fordyce, who won the class 2A title, and Prescott who was also a semi final team in class 3A. The Go-Devils also had the most experienced team in class 2A. Gurdon will go into 2021 with new faces at almost every spot on the field after losing 17 starting seniors in May. The first position is the most important position on offense at quarterback.

Head Coach Jackson believes Senior Andruw Jones is the next man up.

Jones backed up former All Conference quarterback D.J. Anna and came in on multiple occasions at the end of blowout games.

“He’s played a lot of snaps and seen some game action, which you can’t replicate,” Jackson said. “He’s a really dependable kid and does everything you can ask a quarterback to do.”

The Go-Devils gain back Sam Bell who finished last season third in the rushing game with 314 yards and even four touchdowns.

Zamari Haynie starred at defensive end and will move over to fullback. Haynie, a college prospect, achieved All Conference last fall after tackling opponents 34 times, sacking the quarterback five times and recovering four fumbles.

The Gurdon offensive line returns All Conference player Ethan Shaver at right tackle. He anchors an old but inexperienced offensive line that returns two starters.

Junior Kyle Radford looks to be the starter

2021 Gurdon Football team.

at tight end and should provide extra strength on the o-line. Classmate Colby Brigance returns in 2021 after an ACL injury ended his sophomore season.

The Go-Devil defense should be good again in 2021. The defense allowed no more than 20 points a game while the offense put

Photo courtesy of Teresa Martin Griffin

up huge numbers. As said before, Haynie likely leads this Go-Devil defense.

Junior Bryce Bratton won All Conference honors as a sophomore at safety making 31 tackles and never getting beat deep. Radford starts at the other defensive end spot while Haynie holds down one side, but Coach Jackson

is high on Brigance at outside linebacker.

“He doesn’t sit on his heels and wait,” Jackson said. “Colby goes full speed all the time.”

Gurdon will play a benefit game at Fordyce on August 19. The Go-Devils begin their 2021 campaign with a trip to Lafayette County.

Bianchi earns CoSIDA Academic All-American Honors David Salley HSU Sports

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AUSTIN, Texas — Henderson State golfer Allie Bianchi captured another crowning academic achievement on Thursday when she was recognized as a 202021 CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American.

Bianchi was selected from the At-Large category, which encompasses not only golf but 14 other sports.

She was one of only eight women’s golfers nationally to earn selection to any of the Academic All-American Teams and was one of only three to be featured on the First or Second Team.

A native of Allen, Texas, the sophomore Bianchi

has built up an already impressive trophy case. In addition to her Academic AllAmerican accolade, Bianchi has been recognized as a WGCA All-Region honoree, an All-GAC selection, the GAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a WGCA All-American Scholar. She helped lead the Reddies to their first conference title since 2014 this spring and became only the second player ever from HSU to qualify as an individual for the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Bianchi carried a perfect 4.0 GPA this academic year in Finance and is Henderson State’s first CoSida Academic All-American in any sport since Bethany Allen of softball earned the honor in 2018.

Photo courtesy of HSU Sports

Allie Bianchi named to Academic All-America team keeping a 4.0 GPA this year, making her the first Reddie since 2018.

Volleyball tabbed for sixth in 2021 preseason Poll 2021 GAC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Team (First Place Votes) Oklahoma Baptist (10) Harding (2)

Arkansas Tech Southwestern Oklahoma St. Northwestern Oklahoma St. Henderson State Southern Nazarene Arkansas-Monticello East Central Ouachita Baptist Southeastern Oklahoma St. Southern Arkansas

Courtlin Haygarth HSU Sports Russelville, Ark. – After what was a shortened 2021 spring season for the Henderson State volleyball team, resulting in a third-place finish in the Eastern division, the Reddies come into a full 2021 season picked sixth in the 2021 Great American Conference Preseason Poll.

Henderson returns the GAC’s defending Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in Makenzie Thoman and Violeta Mendoza Quintana, respectively, along with Mya Robinson, who led HSU with 149 kills last season.

“We all have the yearto-year goal of being top four [in our league], so having that number put on us by our peers will certainly motivate a lot of our players to come in and show that we’re a higher ranked team than that by the end of the season,

so we’ve got some work to do,” head coach Phil McDaniel said. “We’ve been the underdog before and we’re not afraid of that role and afraid to come out and show people that we’re ready to compete for a conference championship.”

Oklahoma Baptist was picked to defend its conference championship crown as the preseason favorites with 120 total votes and 10 first-place votes. Stealing two of those first-place votes was Harding, who came in second with 112 total votes.

Arkansas Tech backed up the Bisons with 95 votes for a sport at third.

The Reddies prepare to battle some of the nation’s best this season at the top of the conference. Oklahoma Baptist, Harding and Tech were all at one point nationally ranked last year with OKBU ending the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Last season, HSU split its two regular season meetings with

Points 120 112 95 92 79 72 54 46 40 35 33 14

Tech and pushed thenNo.9 Harding to five sets in Searcy in the most recent face-off.

“The GAC has continued to get better every year in my five years here and it’s a much more balanced conference top to bottom, so we have to come in and play every match like its a meaningful, championship-like match,” McDaniel said. “Whether it’s a team that has a better record than us or not as good as ours, we need to come in and play like its the top team in the conference so we can set ourselves up for success.”

Henderson State will look for its fourth straight trip to the GAC Tournament as the 2021 season begins on Friday, Sept. 3 against Texas Woman’s University in the Drury Tournament in Springfield, Missouri, before hosting Christian Brothers inside the Duke Wells Center on Tuesday, Sept. 7 for the home opener.