Arkansas volleyball upsets Kentucky, advances to Elite 8 for 1st time

For the first time in program history, the Arkansas volleyball team is Elite Eight bound.

The third-seeded Razorbacks upset second-seeded Kentucky, the SEC champions who defeated Arkansas twice in the regular season, in a five-set thriller on Thursday in Lincoln, Neb. Arkansas won 22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 22-25 and 15-10.

It snapped a 19-match losing streak to the Wildcats, dating to 2012.

Arkansas is scheduled to face host Nebraska, the NCAA Tournament’s top overall seed, in the regional final Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.

Kentucky won the opening set despite a late surge by the Razorbacks. The Wildcats held set point for 6 consecutive serves — the Razorbacks went on a 5-0 run — but got a kill from Reagan Rutherford to take the set 25-22.

Arkansas took an 11-10 lead in the second set, but a 5-1 run by Kentucky gave put the Wildcats in control. The Razorbacks scrapped back in the set, which was tied 13 times, and took a 22-20 lead. Kentucky tied things with a 2-0 run, but the Razorbacks won the set 25-22 with kills by Taylor Head and Sania Petties, and a set-point service ace from Courtney Jackson.

Through the opening two sets, Arkansas outside hitter Jill Gillen had 11 kills on 22 swings with no attacking errors.

The Razorbacks opened strong in Set 3 and took a commanding 16-10 lead and forced a timeout by Kentucky after a Gillen kill. Arkansas kept rolling and hit .407 to claim a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-15 set victory.

Things were tight early in the fourth set, as the teams traded six ties. A block from Rutherford capped a 3-1 spurt for the Wildcats and gave them 17-13 lead. Arkansas clawed back within 20-19 with a block from Maggie Cartwright and again within 1 point when a kill from Head made it 21-20.

Kentucky scored consecutive points to grab a 23-20 lead and forced a timeout after an ace from Molly Tuozzo. The Wildcats closed trading points with the Razorbacks to win 25-22 and forced Set 5.

Head and Gillen opened the final set with kills to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead. Two blocks in a row from Zoi Evans and Gillen followed by a Kentucky attack error put the Razorbacks ahead 5-1 and forced a timeout.

Rutherford responded with a cross-court kill to draw the Wildcats within three out of the break. A challenge from Kentucky reversed an out call and drew the Wildcats within 6-3, and an Eleanor Beavin ace shrunk Arkansas’ lead to two.

Head came up with a block on a long rally to give the Razorbacks an 8-4 lead as the teams traded sides of the court. A kill, Arkansas attack error and block drew Kentucky back within 8-7 and caused a timeout.

Arkansas extended its lead to 11-7 with a 3-0 run of its own, which included a kill from Head and two consecutive attack errors from Kentucky, which had a season-high 31 errors.

The Razorbacks got an ace from Jada Lawson during the deciding stretch, which ended with a Gillen kill, to claim a 15-10 victory.

Gillen led Arkansas with 20 kills and hit .391. Cartwright (15 kills) and Head (13) contributed to a 59-kill match by the Razorbacks. Hannah Hogue had 43 assists.

It was the second time Arkansas had advanced to the Sweet 16. The Razorbacks in 1998 were swept by Hawaii in the regional semifinals round.