Arkansas volleyball falls in four

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —The University of Arkansas volleyball team suffered a four-set Southeastern Conference loss to Alabama in Barnhill Arena Friday. Arkansas (4-12, 1-5 SEC) fell to Alabama (9-6, 2-4 SEC) 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 14-25. The Razorbacks have lost five in a row and are 1-2 in the SEC Western Division. “You know, we do some things well but we’re just not consistent,” said Arkansas head coach Robert Pulliza. “We have not yet put an entire match together from start to finish. It was a very disappointing night.” Arkansas hit well in the first and third sets, winning set three, 25-21. In that frame, the Razorbacks hit .364 with 16 kills behind solid play from senior Yun Tang. Tang finished the match tying her career-best with eight kills and five blocks. Freshman Kelli Stipanovich led Arkansas with 15 kills and senior Christina Lawrence added 14 kills and hit an Arkansas-best .343. The first set was a “would have, could have” kind of frame. Arkansas blasted out of the gates opening a 7-0 lead and Alabama called a quick timeout to settle the troops. The Crimson Tide chipped its way back into the frame, knotting the score at 13 as the Razorbacks took their first break. The game was even from that point on as the teams exchanged points until it was again tie at 23. Bama would finish the set with a pair of kills taking a 1-0 lead. Arkansas out-hit the Crimson Tide .239-.222 and out-blocked Alabama 3-1 but couldn’t get the win. Arkansas was in the hole in set two but, like Bama in the first set, scratched its way back to make it close. The Razorbacks tied the set at 17 but Alabama seemed to have the momentum. Arkansas threw everything at Bama including changing setters and clearing the bench of defensive players but they dropped the set, 20-25. The Razorbacks didn’t fare as well statistically in the second frame hitting just .143 but Lawrence continued to play well individually. After a five-kill opener, she added four more kills and a block in the second set to lead the team. The deficit didn’t deter Arkansas in the third set as the Razorbacks rallied to win, 25-21. Arkansas hit a match-best .364 with 16 kills and added five blocks as the defense picked up the slack. “The block did a nice job in that game,” said Pulliza. “Yun played well on both sides of the ball.” Arkansas tried to carry the momentum over to the fourth set and played even for four points but the Tide quickly seized the energy and rolled to a win. Arkansas continues SEC play hosting Mississippi State Sunday at 1:30 p.m.