Miller sets SEC digs record in Arkansas' come-from-behind win at Georgia
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ATHENS, Ga. –University of Arkansas senior Ashley Miller surpassed the Southeastern Conference career digs record helping the Lady Razorbacks to an SEC come-from-behind win at Georgia Sunday.
Miller entered the match with 2033 and finished the contest with 25 erasing the SEC record formerly held by Kentucky’s Jenni Casper who had 2037.
Arkansas, meanwhile, rallied from a two-game deficit defeating Georgia, 16-30, 16-30, 30-21, 30-19, 15-11 improving to 12-16 overall and 6-12 in the SEC.
“Wow,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “That’s the first time all year we’ve started that poorly and have been able to come back like that. It’s very encouraging and nice to see. We played about as bad as we had all season in those first two games and about as well as we have all year in the last three.
“I’m proud of Ashley for getting the SEC record,” Poole continued. “It’s a big statement for her to have that. I also thought Christina (Lawrence) and Kristin (Seaton) played well today.”
Lawrence, a junior from Sullivan, Mo., finished with 16 kills and hit a team-best .382. Seaton, a sophomore from Ft. Smith, Ark., came off the beach with seven kills and 12 digs in the win.
Senior Jessica Dorrell lead the team with 18 kills and freshman Heather Royal had her second consecutive double-double with 15 kills and a career-best 19 digs for Arkansas.
The Lady Razorbacks hit zero in game one and just 13 percent in the second game but rallied in games three, four and finally in five.
Arkansas hit .316 with 17 kills in the third-game win and jumped to .475 in the fourth game nearly eliminating their unforced errors with 21 kills and just two hitting miscues. The final game saw the Lady’Backs hit .261 limiting Georgia to a .150 mark.
The fifth-game thriller was tight for much of the frame with the Lady’Backs clinging to a one-point, 8-7 lead as the teams exchanged benches at the halfway point.
Arkansas got two quick points off a pair of Georgia hitting errors that sapped the energy from the Bulldogs. Leading 9-7, Arkansas allowed Georgia to tie the game at nine and again at 11 but sophomore Catherine Fowler teamed with Lawrence for one of the team’s 9.0 blocks giving the Lady’Backs the lead for good.
Fowler finished with five kills, no hitting errors and had six blocks for the Lady’Backs.
A kill from Royal handed Arkansas a two-point lead and Georgia burned its first timeout of the fifth game. Arkansas scored out of the break after the Bulldogs over passed a serve from Royal and quickly Georgia called its final timeout.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t stop Arkansas who got an ace serve from Royal and a kill from Lawrence to win the match.
Arkansas returns home for the final SEC weekend of the season hosting Tennessee Friday and Kentucky Sunday celebrating senior day. The Lady’Backs host Connecticut Nov. 24 in the final match of the year.
For more information about Arkansas volleyball log on to LADYBACKS.COM.
