Lady'Backs break from SEC action hosting Valparaiso

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team is taking a rare weekend break from Southeastern Conference action hosting Valparaiso Sunday at 1:30 p.m., in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas is coming off a much-needed SEC win over Kentucky Friday bettering their record to 8-10 overall and 6-3 in the SEC. The Crusaders also won in Mid-Continent Conference action picking up a 3-0 win over Centenary improving to 19-3 overall and 8-0 in league play. "Every match challenges us in new ways right now," said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. "We improve every time we take the court and we have to take this match seriously to win it. They (Valparaiso) are coming in with a good record in both conference and non-conference play and they’ll be looking for a win. We are going to have to play at a high level to win." The Crusaders enter the contest on a 13-match winning streak and have won the last five in three games. Valparaiso is hitting .239 as a team paced by a .326 mark from Lauren Moulton. Arkansas enters the match hitting just .175 as a team – the lowest mark in school history. Senior Jennifer Haaser is leading the Lady’Backs hitting .232 with 220 kills this year. Freshman Jessica Dorrell checks in hitting .208 ranking second among the hitters. The Lady Razorback defense continues to lead the team with Arkansas averaging 2.86 blocks per game. Haaser also leads the team in that area with 1.33 blocks per game and a team-best 98 total blocks this year. Junior Karla Crose is averaging 1.23 bpg with 90 total blocks. The deviation from SEC action is short-lived for the Lady Razorbacks. The team departs Monday afternoon traveling to Baton Rouge, La., for a Tuesday contest at LSU. Arkansas returns to Barnhill for weekend action hosting Alabama Friday, Oct. 29, and Auburn, Sunday, Oct. 31. For more information about Arkansas volleyball log on to www.ladybacks.com.