First Loss Comes at the Hands of No. 6 Wisconsin

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team dropped its first match of the season Saturday evening, losing a straight-set decision to No. 6 Wisconsin on day two of the K-State Invitational. Redshirt senior Pilar Victoria posted a match-high 21 kills with a .368 attack efficiency. Sophomore setter Rachel Rippee dished out 33 assists to go along with five digs and a team-high four total blocks.

Saturday’s weekend finale against Syracuse is scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT), and will be just the second meeting in the series between the two programs. Arkansas and Syracuse last met during the 1999 season. The Razorbacks’ next home match is Sept. 5 when they host Oral Roberts at Barnhill Arena.

FINAL
#6 Wisconsin 3, Arkansas 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22) | Box Score
Attendance: 322 | Time: 1:24
Ahearn Field House (Manhattan, Kan.)

#RazorStats

• Leaders vs #6 Wisconsin
  • Kills: Pilar Victoria – 21
  • Digs: Okiana Valle – 6
  • Blocks: Rachel Rippee – 4.0 (0-4)

The teams exchanged four-point runs to open the match before Wisconsin took control of the scoreboard, building a 13-9 lead. The Razorbacks responded and pulled to within two points after a kill by Reagan Robinson. However, the Badgers won six of the next seven points to go ahead 21-14 and force an Arkansas timeout. The nation’s sixth-ranked team went on to take the opening set, 25-18.

Like they did in Friday’s win over Kansas State, the Razorbacks jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the second set after freshman Elizabeth Pamphile found the floor with her third kill of the match. Wisconsin began to chip away and used a 6-0 run to take an 18-13 lead. Arkansas (4-1) responded with a run of its own, winning four of the next five points which included three kills by Victoria. With its lead down to one, Wisconsin rattled off the next three points to create some cushion on the scoreboard and come away with a 25-21 set win.

The third set saw just two lead changes but featured eight ties, four of which came in the late stages of the frame. With the score tied at 5-all, the Razorbacks won six of the next eight points to take an 11-7 lead on a Victoria kill. The Caguas, Puerto Rico, native had nine kills on 13 swings and no errors in the third set. Arkansas’ lead reached five at 16-11 on a kill by Logan Brown. Another swing in points—this time by Wisconsin—evened the score at 18-all.

With the score tied at 20-20, Victoria and freshman Hailey Dirrigl put down back-to-back kills to go ahead 22-20. However, the Badgers reels off the final five points of the set with the help of three blocks. With the win, Wisconsin improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 during the K-State Invitational.

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