Lady'Backs down State in three Friday

Jump to Mississippi State box score FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas got 13 kills each from Denitza Koleva and Jessica Dorrell in a three-game Southeastern Conference win over Mississippi State in Barnhill Arena Friday. Arkansas improves to 10-3 overall and 3-2 in the SEC while State falls to 10-5, 1-4 in the SEC with the 30-19, 30-28, 30-19 win. “I’m really proud of the way we worked all week to get ready for this match,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “MSU is a great serving and passing team and we held them to five aces. We were aggressive and blocked well and I think that was the biggest difference.” Koleva finished with a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs. Redshirt freshman Destiny Clark and sophomore Christina Lawrence had five blocks each with Lawrence hitting a match-best .429 with eight kills, two errors and 14 attempts. Both squads struggled with the serve in game one with Arkansas committing two service errors and State missing seven serves. Despite the missed serves, Arkansas opened with a solid block that sparked the offense and the Lady’Backs managed 12 kills – four each from Koleva and Dorrell. Lawrence hit .750 in the first game with three kills in four attempts. She had two block assists to lead Arkansas. State was very balanced in the first game with seven players getting eight team kills. The service errors continued to haunt State in the second game but they more than made up for it with an improved offensive attack that gave the Lady’Backs trouble. Mississippi State hit .213 in the second frame as Orshi Kriegel came alive with eight kills and a .538 hitting percentage. But State’s five service errors at critical times late in the frame proved to be their undoing. Dorrell tallied six kills and hit .417 in the game. The game was close throughout with 12 tie scores but Arkansas would led when it counted. Tied at 27, a State service error game Arkansas the lead and they wouldn’t trail again. The Lady’Backs dominated the final game hitting .242 and never trailed. Arkansas lead by as many as 10, 22-12, and cruised to the win. Arkansas hit .225 for the match with seven team blocks holding the Bulldogs to a .147 mark and just two blocks. “I’m really happy to have the win,” said Poole. “The SEC is really wild this year and anything can happen. Our crowd was really good again tonight and carried us through some long rallies. I hope we can see that again Sunday.” Arkansas returns to SEC action hosting Mississippi in a 1:00 p.m. match Sunday in Barnhill Arena. For more information please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.