Non-Conference Road Trip to Santa Barbara
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Having won six of its first seven matches of the season, the University of Arkansas volleyball team heads west this weekend for the UCSB Thunderdome Classic in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Razorbacks are set to face No. 19 USC (4-2), Yale (3-0) and host UC Santa Barbara (0-6) with two matches Friday and one Saturday.
2017 UCSB Thunderdome Classic | Match Notes | Tournament Central
Friday, Sept. 8
2:30 p.m. (CT) – Arkansas vs No. 19 USC
Big West TV | Live Stats
6:30 p.m. (CT) – Arkansas vs Yale
Big West TV | Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 9
9 p.m. (CT) – Arkansas at UCSB
Big West TV | Live Stats
Against the Field
The Razorbacks have played a combined one match against the field at this weekend’s UCSB Thunderdome Classic. The only previous meeting came against USC during the 2000 season. Yale and UCSB are two of four first-time opponents for Arkansas this season.
Last Time Out
Three Razorbacks recorded double-digit kills in a straight-set win over Oral Roberts (Sept. 5) at Barnhill Arena. Pilar Victoria put down 19 kills while Hailey Dirrigl and Reagan Robinson added 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Dirrigl established a career high with her effort. With the win, Arkansas improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 on its home floor.
Can You Dig It?
Arkansas’ 56 digs in Tuesday’s straight-set win over Oral Roberts are the most by the program in a three-set match since the 2012 season. Junior libero Okiana Valle had a match-high 14 digs while senior Krista Kolbinskie posted a career-high 11 digs. In completing double-double outings, Pilar Victoria and Rachel Rippee tallied 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
Rippee Cracks the Top 10
With her 23rd assist against Oral Roberts (Sept. 5), sophomore setter Rachel Rippee moved into the program’s all-time top 10. The Springfield, Mo., native finished the match with 46 assists and currently sits eighth in program history with 1,284 career assists. Rippee enters the weekend leading the SEC with 12.17 assists per set, and directing the offense to a .274 hitting percentage which ranks fourth in the league.
Victoria Picks Up Weekly Honor
For the second time in her career, redshirt senior Pilar Victoria was selected the SEC Player of the Week (Sept. 5) having averaged 6.73 kills per set with a .381 hitting percentage during the K-State Invitational. She opened the tournament with 34 kills in a five-set win over host Kansas State. Victoria was previously recognized in 2015.
Season tickets are still available with pricing options beginning at $40 and can be purchased through the Razorback Ticket Center by calling 800-982-HOGS (4647). Arkansas’ next home match is Wednesday, Sept. 20 when the team opens SEC play against Tennessee at 8 p.m.
For more information about Arkansas Volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Twitter.
