Dorrell's effort not enough

Jump toMissouri State box score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Sophomore Jessica Dorrell posted a Herculean effort in a losing cause as the University of Arkansas fell to Missouri State in four games at the Results Advertising Invitational in Springfield, Mo., Friday. Dorrell was nearly perfect hitting .424 with a team-leading 15 kills in 33 attempts. She had just one hitting error on the final ball of the match as Arkansas (4-2 overall) fell 24-30, 30-24, 23-30, 20-30. The Lady’Backs resume tournament action Saturday facing Utah at 10:00 a.m., followed by a match with Iowa State at 5:00 p.m. “It’s a very disappointing match for us,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole, “with the exception of Jessica. We didn’t get any of the offense we needed today. You can’t beat a good team like Missouri State with just one hitter.” The Lady Razorbacks finished the match hitting a season-low .149 behind Dorrell’s game-leading performance. Junior Denitza Koleva and redshirt freshman Christina Lawrence also posted double-digit kill totals with 14 and 10 respectively. Junior Amy Allison led the team with eight blocks while sophomore Ashley Miller recorded 24 digs for Arkansas. Missouri State (3-4) hit just .194 in the win notching just their second victory over Arkansas in the series history. Arkansas managed a season-low 11 blocks while allowing eight for the Bears. “We had a lot of missed opportunities with the block,” said Poole. “We just never got into sync and we certainly didn’t play like we’re capable of.” Arkansas was flat in the first game getting out-hit .125-.214 and out-dug 28-20 in the losing effort. The normally balanced Lady Razorback attack was much more one-dimensional in the first stanza with Koleva getting 18 attempts. Lawrence was next with eight for Arkansas. The second game seemed to be a continuation of the first with Missouri State taking an early lead but Arkansas rallied at the mid-point. The frame was tied at 11, 13, 17 and 20 before the Lady’Backs eked out a two-point advantage they would not surrender. Arkansas out-scored the Bears 10-4 down the stretch including a 6-2 run after Missouri State called its final time out of the game. The Lady’Backs hit a much-improved .238 in the frame with 16 kills including five from Dorrell in the game. Dorrell, an Aledo, Texas, native was perfect through two games hitting .500 with seven kills, 14 attempts and no hitting errors for Arkansas. Dorrell’s success continued in game three with a 5-for-9 performance but the Bears controlled nearly every statistical advantage in the frame. Arkansas trailed by as many as eight twice in the game and the Lady’Backs were never able to overcome an early Bear lead. The final frame began more evenly with Arkansas keeping pace with Missouri State through the early scoring. Missouri State’s offense, however, turned it up a notch, quickly opening an eight-point advantage, 18-10, as Arkansas couldn’t control the unforced errors. Arkansas is just beginning the first of two consecutive road trips traveling West to San Diego, Calif., next weekend. The Lady Razorbacks return to Barnhill Arena Sept. 23 and Sept. 25 opening Southeastern Conference play with No. 11 Tennessee and South Carolina. For more information about Arkansas volleyball log on to LADYBACKS.COM.