The Razorback volleyball team has now won 13 matches straight for the first time since 2003 as the Hogs extended their streak with a 3-1 victory over Missouri on Sunday afternoon.
Graduate outside hitter Jill Gillen led the way for Arkansas with 15 kills and 15 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. She needed just 12 kills on the day to make her way into No. 2 on the program career kill list and now sits at 1,803, also first in the current scoring era, which dates back to 2008.
The Hogs saw an incredibly balanced attack in the match with four players registering double-digit kills and three others in addition to Gillen with double-doubles: Taylor Head, Maggie Cartwright and Hannah Hogue.
On defense, junior libero Courtney Jackson added 12 digs, which put her to 1,0004 in her career. The Hogs also posted seven blocks, led by junior Zoi Evans with one solo and three assists for four total.
Set 1
Arkansas got off to a hot start and began with a 9-3 run, which sent the Tigers to a timeout. Mizzou got two points back, but the Hogs kept their foot on the gas and strung together a 7-1 streak not long after for the 17-7 edge. The Razorbacks limited the Tigers to one point at a time while they put themselves two away at 23-11. Missouri found a little bit of rhythm and tacked on four, which included a spoiled Arkansas set point, but a Missouri service error made it 25-15 and gave the opening set to the home team.
Set 2
The Tigers swung the momentum quickly in the second set and the Hogs found themselves down 11-6 after not scoring more than one point at a time. They righted the ship slightly and cut the deficit to three, but the Tigers put together a stunning 7-0 run and went up by 10. Arkansas didn’t go quietly and scored five of the next seven, and closed the gap even further at 23-16, but Missouri sent it to set point next. The Hogs spoiled it three times and sent the Tigers to a timeout, but Mizzou came right back with a dig for the 25-19 set victory to even the match.
Set 3
The third set was close to start, but the Razorbacks locked in and went on a 7-1 run that featured two blocks, four kills and an ace by Cartwright for a 10-4 advantage. The Tigers threatened and came within three, but Arkansas answered back with a 6-1 point streak and pushed the lead to 19-11. Missouri regrouped with a timeout, but it wasn’t much use. Arkansas went up by 10 and pushed it to set point, and the Tigers got two back, but a Missouri attack error made it 25-16 for the Hogs and gave them the match lead back.
Set 4
The Hogs continued to roll in the fourth set and quickly jumped out to a 9-3 lead, which sent the Tigers to a huddle. Arkansas got another, but the Tigers started to push and went on a 6-1 run that cut the deficit to only two. Arkansas regrouped and again went up by six, but Missouri wouldn’t go down without a fight and kept clawing back. The Tigers made it 18-16 and Arkansas called time. It worked as the Hogs added three points for a 21-16 lead. Missouri found life again and narrowed the gap to two once more, but the Razorbacks shut it down at 25-22 with a kill from Gillen for the match victory.
Up Next
Arkansas continues a three-match homestand with two next weekend. The Hogs take on Ole Miss on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. and Alabama on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. Friday’s match will be streamed on SEC Network+ and Sunday’s will air live on SEC Network.
More Information
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Overshadowed by Arkansas’ 52-point offensive performance was the difficulties the Razorbacks had stopping Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, who scored 29 points on 10-for-20 shooting, including five threes in a 24-point loss against the No. 1 Volunteers.
Now, the Hogs must deal with a quartet of guards against No. 23 Ole Miss. All four can score in the “randomness” of coach Chris Beard’s system. The Rebels’ top four scorers, Sean Pedulla, Jaylen Murray, Matthew Murrell and Dre Davis are all listed as guards and average double figures.
“These guys run motion,” assistant coach Chin Coleman said. “It’s all random and it’s all different and so, while they’re moving and cutting and screening, you’re going to have to guard every kind of screen there is in the game of basketball. That motion is unpredictable. The freedom of movement, cutting, screening. It’s hard to scheme against. It’s hard to scout.”
Arkansas also must contend with an Ole Miss team that wins the turnover battle on both ends of the floor. The Rebels commit the ninth-fewest turnovers in the country (9.3) and are third-best in turnover margin (+7.0).
“We want to stay on the attack and make plays for one another and not have a lot of live-ball turnovers,” Coleman said. “Those are the ones that we can’t defend against. We want to make teams play against our set defense, which is one of the best in the country. If we can do that and not have live ball turnovers, we’ll be fine.”
Tennessee forced the Razorbacks to commit 15 turnovers, picked up 10 steals and turned it into 13 points. Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC at 10.2 steals a game.
Tipoff between Ole Miss and Arkansas is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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The first availability report for Arkansas basketball’s (11-3, 0-1 SEC) matchup against the No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels (12-2, 1-0 SEC) was released by the Southeastern Conference on Tuesday.
Introduced over the offseason, availability reports will be filed one day before contests, with an additional update on game day.
According to the SEC, student-athletes will be designated as “available”, “probable”, “doubtful” or “out” for their next game. For additional clarity on game day, student-athletes will be designated as “available”, “game time decision” or “out.”
Below is the first availability report of the week ahead of Arkansas’ game against Ole Miss, which will tip off at 6 p.m. CT at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville:
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