Dorrell and Allison have big match against Kansas

Jump to Kansas box score|| Jump toKansas Play-by-Play FAYETTEVILLE —Sophomore Amy Allison and freshman Jessica Dorrell had career nights for the University of Arkansas volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Kansas in the 2004 season opener in Barnhill Arena Wednesday. Arkansas, 0-1 on the year, got a career-best 13 kills from Allison and 15 from Dorrell in the 20-30, 26-30, 30-23, 25-30 loss. The boisterous crowd of 750 tried to rally the Lady’Backs but solid offense from the nationally recognized Jayhawks gave the visitor the win. “I’m proud of the way the team hung in there,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “We made a lot of mistakes but we really hung tough. At times, some individuals did some good things but as a team we have to learn to play together.” Arkansas finished the match hitting .158 with 55 kills and 10.0 blocks. Kansas hit .222 with 58 kills and 14.0 blocks. It was a slow start in game one for the Lady Razorbacks as they hit just .133 as a team and got behind early. Arkansas did keep the game close until the 15-point mark when Kansas began to pull away. Freshman Jessica Dorrell of Aledo, Texas, came out of the gates on fire in her first collegiate match with a team-best five kills in the first game. The Lady’Backs started the second game with back-to-back kills from sophomore Amy Allison taking a quick lead. A block from sophomore Karla Crose and Allison gave Arkansas a three-point lead but Kansas stormed back quickly tying the game. A back-and-forth battle followed with neither team able to control the score. With the game tied at seven, Kansas slowly began to pull away, taking a 13-8 lead and forcing Poole to call the first timeout. The Lady’Backs emerged from the huddle inspired and jumped right back into the game running off five unanswered points to tie it at 13. The tie prompted Kansas to call its first timeout of the match and then the Jayhawks stepped up taking the lead for good. Arkansas threatened late in the game around the 20-point mark but couldn’t overcome a powerful Kansas attack. Late game service errors also hampered Arkansas’ rally late in the contest. The third game was more to Arkansas’ liking with the Lady’Backs taking an early lead and holding on down the stretch. Arkansas opened with a 3-1, then 12-7 leads but Kansas closed the gap and tied the game at 15. Arkansas chipped away at the score opening a four-point lead, 20-16, forcing Kansas to call a break but it was the Lady’Backs who turned up the heat out of the huddle. The Lady’Backs’ blocking came to life with senior Jennifer Haaser, Crose, Allison and junior setter Iva Docekalova all getting into the act. As the block came to life, the Kansas offense struggled with unforced errors giving Arkansas the game-three victory. Arkansas had just three blocks in the first two games but rallied with five in the third set. The Lady’Backs outhit Kansas .229 to .022 in the game with 13 kills, three each from Denitza Koleva and Dorrell. Arkansas let the Jayhawks control the pace in the fourth game, falling behind early and playing chase all game. Kansas has as much as a seven point lead in the contest but Arkansas never quit. Down 24-18, Arkansas got a kill from Crose and another from Dorrell to reduce the margin. A Kansas hitting error brought Arkansas closer and prompted a Jayhawk timeout. Kansas scored twice out of the break but Arkansas came right back with kills from Dorrell and a pair from Crose making it 26-24. Arkansas just ran out of time as Kansas rattled off four points for the match win. The Lady Razorbacks won’t have much time to reflect on the Kansas match boarding a plane for Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday morning. Arkansas faces the University of the Pacific Friday followed by a Saturday match at No. 22 Santa Clara Saturday. Arkansas returns to Barnhill Sept. 17-18 hosting the C&C Services Invitational. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to www.ladybacks.com.