Hogs' home stand begins with Alabama

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After four consecutive matches on the road, the University of Arkansas volleyball teams begins a three-match home stand Friday against Alabama. First serve between the Southeastern Conference Western Division rivals is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Barnhill Arena. Arkansas enters the weekend with an 8-9 record and a 2-4 mark in conference play, while Alabama is 6-10 overall with a 4-2 record in the SEC.The Razorbacks lead the all-time series, 25-7, though the Crimson Tide have won the last four meetings, including a four-set victory in Fayetteville last season. Arkansas is 14-2 on its home court against Alabama. The last two matches between the teams at Barnhill have gone to four sets.Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Jasmine Norton leads the team and is third in conference-only matches with 3.65 kills per set, up from her overall season output of 3.47. She turned in a pair of double-double performances last weekend at Georgia and Auburn.

Norton is trailed by teammates Kelli Stipanovich and Amanda Anderson with 2.69 and 2.52 kills per set, respectively. Anderson is hitting .332 this season, good for eighth in the conference, and sits at 10th in the SEC with 1.03 blocks per set. Senior Kristin Seaton rounds out the top-four attacking group with 2.11 kills per set.

Running the Arkansas offense is senior setter Lindsay Scanlan and her 9.89 assists per set, the fifth-best mark in the conference. She tied her career best with 53 assists against Auburn in the Razorbacks’ last outing. Scanlan enters the weekend just 43 assists from reaching 2,500 for her career. Behind the emerging block of Anderson and fellow freshman Janeliss Torres-Lopez, sophomore libero Phoebe Bautista is seventh in the SEC with 4.00 digs per set.

For Alabama, the offensive leaders are Ashley Frazier and Alyssa Meuth. Frazier leads the Crimson Tide with 2.92 kills per set with Meuth not far behind at 2.76. Kayla Fitterer has also been a weapon for Alabama with 2.19 putaways per set. Meuth is second in the SEC with her .374 hitting percentage. Running primarily a 6-2 system, the Crimson Tide are directed by Kayla Schmidt (5.65 assists per set) and Stephanie Riley (4.38).

Following their contest with Alabama, the Razorbacks will host Mississippi State on Oct. 11 to close out the weekend and Ole Miss on Oct. 14 in a mid-week showdown. Both matches this weekend will be streamed online and live stats will be available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: arkvb ua, msu notes.pdf