Arkansas wins in four moves up the SEC Western Division

Jump to Auburn box FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas moved into sole possession of the lead in the Southeastern Conference Western Division with a four-game win over Auburn in Barnhill Arena Sunday. The 30-22, 30-25, 14-30, 30-16 win combined with a three-game loss by Alabama at LSU moves Arkansas to 16-8 overall and a West-leading 9-3 in league play. Redshirt freshman Christina Lawrence had another good match hitting .304 with 12 kills and three blocks. Junior Denitza Koleva paced the team with 14 kills, while junior Amy Allison added 13, hit .308 and had nine blocks in the win. “We’re a very different team,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “We’re surviving. I’m disappointed in the third game but pleased with the finish in the fourth game. We’ve got to get to the point where we don’t have these let downs. Arkansas dominated play in the first two games out-hitting the Tigers .305 to .176, but Auburn would not go quietly into the night. The Tigers roared back in the third game hitting .310 as the Lady’Backs hit negative for the frame in the convincing 30-14 win. “We just really let up,” said Poole. Arkansas rallied in the fourth frame hitting .545 with 20 kills and just two errors in the final period but it wasn’t an easy start to the game. The teams exchanged points until they were tied at 11. Senior Iva Docekalova retreated to the service line and served for 12 consecutive points as Arkansas rolled to the win. Arkansas’s victory moved the Lady’Backs to 9-4 in the league. LSU and Alabama are tied for second at 8-4 followed by Mississippi State at 2-9, Auburn at 2-10 and Mississippi who is 1-9. The conference race continues to be interesting as Tennessee upset No. 4 Florida in five games. The Gators led the East with an 11-1 record followed by Tennessee at 9-4 and Kentucky who is 8-4. Georgia improved to 3-9 overall with a five-game win over South Carolina who is also 3-9 in the SEC. Arkansas breaks from conference action hosting Oral Roberts Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., in Barnhill. The Lady’Backs then hit the road for a pair of SEC Western Division matches at Mississippi State and Mississippi Friday and Sunday. Both matches will air live in Fayetteville on KXUA, 88.3 FM, and on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM.