Arkansas wins fifth in a row 3-1 over Auburn

Jump to Auburn box FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team won its fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference match with a 3-1 victory over Auburn in Barnhill Arena Friday. Arkansas improves to 15-8 overall and 8-7 in the SEC while Auburn falls to 12-14 overall and 4-11 in the league with the 34-32, 27-30, 30-17, 30-22 win. The Lady’Backs host No. 8 Florida Sunday at 1:30 p.m., as conference action continues. "I’m very happy to get the win," said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. "We had some let downs but I thought we fought well against a scrappy, well-coached team. We know we have to play better against Florida on Sunday but I’m pleased with tonight’s win." Senior Amy Allison and sophomore Christina Lawrence paced the Arkansas attack. Allison, a Jenks, Okla., native, hit .462 with 13 kills and 10 blocks while Lawrence tied her season-best with 12 kills hitting .600 and did not have an error. Senior Denitza Koleva led Arkansas with 20 kills and 15 digs while senior Kele Brewer added 10 kills and a season-best 13 digs for Arkansas. The first two games were back-and-forth battles that could have gone either way. Arkansas’ game one 34-32 win ties the longest game of the year, a 32-34 game three loss at Auburn, earlier this year. The game was tied 14 times and there were eight lead changes but Koleva gave the Lady’Backs the final advantage. The senior sliced a shot cross court and the laser landed just inside the sideline for the 33-32 lead. An Auburn hitting error handed the first game to Arkansas. The second game saw Arkansas take an early lead but Auburn stayed close eventually taking a 24-23 lead and going on a 6-1 run to close the game. The Lady’Backs, however, regained the momentum out of the break and blistered the ball in the third game. Arkansas hit .536 with 15 kills and just one error leading from the first point and never looking back. That momentum shifted to the Tigers as game four started. Auburn opened a 7-3 lead but Arkansas scratched its way back into the game tying the frame at seven-all. The Lady’Backs sprinted ahead with an 8-2 run taking a lead they would not surrender. "We are really approaching these last 10 matches as a new season," said Poole. "We were 3-7 the first time through the SEC schedule but we’re 5-0 in this ‘new’ season. The team has really bought into that and embraced that philosophy. They’ve taken ownership in the team and its success and that is translating to better play on the floor." Arkansas returns to action Sunday hosting No. 8 Florida in a 1:30 p.m. match in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas hosts Alabama Nov. 12, in the final home match of the 2007 season. For more information about Arkansas volleyball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.