Late Rally Falls Short in Weekend Finale
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Senior co-captains Danielle Harbin and Breana Jones tallied 22 and 13 kills, respectively, in a four-set road loss Sunday afternoon at Tennessee. The Razorbacks pulled to within one late in the fourth set after trailing by as many as six but couldn’t complete the rally. Defensively, senior Ana Sofia Jusino led all players with eight total blocks and became the 15th player in program history with 300 career blocks.
FINAL
Tennessee 3, Arkansas 1 (25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22) | Box Score
Attendance: 763 | Time: 2:13
Thompson-Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)
#RazorStats
• Leaders vs. Tennessee
o Kills: Danielle Harbin – 22
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 24
o Blocks: Ana Sofia Jusino – 8.0 (1-7) (season high)
• Double-doubles
o Rachel Rippee – 49 assists, 10 digs
Harbin eclipsed the 20-kill mark for the fourth time this season and for the second time against a Southeastern Conference opponent. The Mobile, Alabama, native has now reached double figures in 16 of 19 matches during her senior campaign. Jones established a season-best performance with her 13 kills to go along with a .423 hitting percentage. Coming in off the bench, fellow senior Savannah Voelzke added eight kills, six digs and three total blocks.
With her performance at the net, Jusino moved into 15th place on the program’s career list with 303 career total blocks. She surpassed Melanie Davis (1994-96) on Arkansas’ all-time list. Jusino’s eight blocks against Tennessee also represented a season high. Sophomore libero Okiana Valle picked up a match-high 24 digs, good for her second-consecutive 20-dig effort of the year and the 10th of her career.
Having dropped the opening frame, Arkansas (3-16, 1-6 SEC) used a five-point surge in the second to take a 16-11 lead after a Tennessee attack landed wide. After another Harbin kill, the Razorbacks led 20-15 but Tennessee (13-7, 3-4 SEC) won seven of the next eight points to go ahead on the scoreboard. The teams were tied at 23-all but the Vols won the last two points to take a 2-0 match lead in to halftime.
In the third set, the Razorbacks used a five-point run to turn a 10-9 lead into a 15-9 advantage at the media break. Freshman setter Rachel Rippee capped the surge with a service ace. Arkansas led by as many as six before the home team closed to within one at 21-20. However, the Razorbacks never relinquished their lead and got on the scoreboard with a Tennessee attack error. The Vols responded in the fourth set and led 18-12 but back-to-back blocks sparked a five-point run that got Arkansas back within one but Tennessee never gave up the lead on its way to the four-set victory.
Arkansas begins a four-match home stand this Friday, Oct. 21, when it hosts Alabama at Barnhill Arena. First serve of the conference matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. For more information about tickets, fans can call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or buy tickets online.
