Arkansas hosts ORU on Tuesday

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team breaks from Southeastern Conference action hosting Oral Roberts in a mid-week tilt Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas enters the match with a 16-8 overall record and a 9-3 SEC mark while ORU checks in at 17-9 overall and 9-1 in Mid-Continent Conference action. "This should be a great match," said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. "Historically, this match has been a battle between two very physical teams and it usually goes down to the wire." Arkansas holds a slight, 8-5, series advantage over ORU and has won the last eight consecutive meetings but ORU comes to Barnhill in a little different position than in recent seasons. Currently second in the conference standings, ORU is hitting .220 as a team paced by Ori Zuzic with a team-leading 409 kills and 4.40 kills per game this season. The Golden Eagle defense is also solid averaging 15.72 digs per game and 2.00 blocks per game. Arkansas comes into the match hitting slightly better at a .225 clip behind junior Amy Allison who is hitting .288. Junior Denitza Koleva leads the team with 329 kills and a 3.70 kpg average. The Lady’Backs are averaging 15.18 digs per game and 3.33 blocks per game. "Both of our teams are pretty evenly matched," said Poole. "ORU is trying to make a run at the conference title and earn an automatic trip to the NCAA Tournament as are we. This match could effect both of us in terms of the postseason." Arkansas returns to SEC action traveling to Mississippi State Friday followed by a match at Mississippi on Sunday. The Lady’Backs then travel to LSU for a mid-week match-up with the Tigers followed by a home match against Kentucky Nov. 13, as the regular season concludes. For more information about Arkansas volleyball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.