Lady'Backs suffer near-miss at No. 15 Tennessee

Jump to Tennessee box KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team saw a win over 15th-ranked Tennessee slip through its fingers Friday falling to the Lady Vols in four games in Southeastern Conference volleyball action in Knoxville, Tenn. Arkansas dominated play over the Lady Vols in game one winning 30-15 and handing Tennessee its worst single-game loss of the season. But Tennessee rallied for a 30-22, 30-28, 30-24 sweep to win the match. The loss drops Arkansas to 13-11 overall and 9-4 in the league while Tennessee secured at least the number two seed in the SEC Tournament improving to 23-2 overall and 12- in the league. “We played a great match,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “We had everything in the world against us tonight and I’m proud of the way we battled. We didn’t get one single break all night. It’s a disappointing loss to do so many things right and not be able to reap the benefits of it.” Arkansas’ block was again big for the Lady’Backs with 15 team blocks paced by a 10-block night from junior Karla Crose. Sophomore Amy Allison, freshman Jessica Dorrell and senior Jennifer Haaser added five block assists each for Arkansas. In addition the Lady’Backs out-hit Tennessee .189 to .171 with more kills, 61 to 58, in the match. The Lady’Backs dominated all sides of the ball in the first game leading by as many as 11 quickly and winning by 15. Arkansas hit .300 with 16 kills holding Tennessee to a negative hitting performance in the frame. The momentum swung Tennessee’s way in the second game with the Lady Vols opening a 10-4 lead that Arkansas could not recover from. Arkansas hitting fell from .300 to .211 while Tennessee elevated its performance to .467 in the game. “I was disappointed in the way we came out in game two,” said Poole. “We gave them a foot in the door and it was the difference in the match. It gave them life.” Arkansas was not without opportunities in the third frame as the teams played back-and-forth ball much of the game until a Tennessee service ace that gave the Lady Vols a 25-24 lead seemed to take the wind from the Lady’Backs sails. Arkansas tried to stiffen the defense to finish the team but a relentless attack by Tennessee’s top hitting Yuliya Stoyanova finished off the Lady’Backs. Stoyanova led the match with 18 kills for Tennessee. Arkansas won’t have much time to reflect on the match traveling to South Carolina for a Sunday afternoon match with the Gamecocks. Sunday’s match airs live on FSN (FOX Sports Net South) and in the Fayetteville area on KXUA, 88.3 FM. For more information about Arkansas volleyball log on to www.ladybacks.com.