Arkansas Tech (12-9, 6-3 GAC) delivered an impressive 2-0 week with a five-set win over Southwestern Oklahoma State (12-9, 5-4 GAC) before beating Northwestern Oklahoma State (8-14, 2-7 GAC) in four sets. The Golden Suns, Harding (16-4, 6-3 GAC) and Southern Nazarene (14-8, 6-3 GAC) are all currently tied for third in the conference standings.
Henderson State (11-10, 5-4 GAC) moved into the top-7 with a pair of victories over Southeastern and East Central, sitting tied for sixth with SWOSU with four weeks remaining in the 2026 regular season.
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Henley Hooks | Arkansas Tech | RS | Sr. | Benton, Ark.
Arkansas Tech senior right side Henley Hooks led the Golden Suns to an impressive 2-0 week with a five-set victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State before beating Northwestern Oklahoma State in four sets. In the league’s biggest win of the week, Hooks totaled a match-high 21 kills on a .362 attack percentage against the Bulldogs before adding nine more against NWOSU to end the week. Against Southwestern, the Natural State product reached 1,000 career kills.
DEFENSIVE
Kaylon Partain | Henderson State | L | Sr. | Atlanta, Texas
Henderson State senior libero Kaylon Partain picked up her league-best third Player of the Week nod after accounting for 82 digs in just nine sets, including a 48-dig performance against East Central, serving as the most digs in a single match in the GAC this season. The Atlanta, Texas, native’s efforts helped lift HSU to a 2-0 week with wins over Southeastern Oklahoma State and ECU. Partain is currently leading the NCAA across Divisions I, II and III with 6.78 digs per set and 542 total digs.
SETTER
Mack Bidwell | Ouachita Baptist | S | Sr. | Franklin, Tenn.
Ouachita Baptist senior setter Mack Bidwell led the conference in week seven with 11.86 assists per set as the Tigers defeated East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma State. Bidwell matched a season-high 49 assists against the Savage Storm. The Franklin, Tenn., native is currently third in the league and 37th in DII with 9.49 assists per set.
WEEKLY AWARDS
GAC Offensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 7 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 14 Rylee Unruh, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 21 Melaina Haines, Harding
Sept. 28 Kate Wright, Southern Nazarene (x2)
Oct. 5 Melody Donegan, Oklahoma Baptist
Oct. 12 Henley Hooks, Arkansas Tech
GAC Defensive Player of the Week
Aug. 31 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State
Sept. 7 Hannah Morgan, Southern Nazarene
Sept. 14 Rauly Eason, Harding
Sept. 21 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x2)
Sept. 28 Patience Lewis, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 5 Riley Richardson, Southern Nazarene
Oct. 12 Kaylon Partain, Henderson State (x3)
GAC Setter of the Week
Aug. 31 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist
Sept. 7 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Sept. 14 Olivia Wiedower, Harding
Sept. 21 Emily Boyer, Oklahoma Baptist (x2)
Sept. 28 Mackenzie Sims, Southwestern Oklahoma State (x2)
Oct. 5 Jasmin Dion, Southeastern Oklahoma State
Oct. 12 Mack Bidwell, Ouachita Baptist
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