Razorback Roundup -- Nov. 30

RAZORBACK ROUNDUPNov. 30, 2009BASEBALL: Arkansas begins its 2010 season with a three-game series against Ball State at Baum Stadium Feb. 19-21. The Razorbacks play their first seven games at home.MEN’S BASKETBALL (2-4): The Razorbacks struggled over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to fall to 2-4 on the year. Sophomore Rotnei Clarke continues to lead the team in scoring and is one of the top scorers in the nation at 26.7 points per game. Clarke has been Arkansas’ leading scorer in five of six games this season and against East Tennessee State, the Verdigris, Okla., native scored 30 —plus points for the second time this season on 10 three-point baskets. Clarke is the first Razorback since Jannero Pargo in 2002 to score 30 or more points in multiple games in a season. The Razorbacks go on the road on Wednesday night to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla., then return to Fayetteville for a contest with Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 5.WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (4-1): The Razorbacks picked up a pair of wins at the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun, Mexico, last week. Sophomore Lyndsay Harris poured in a career-best 26 points, leading Arkansas to a hard-fought 66-60 win over Iona in the opener. A balanced effort with four players in double-figures paced the Razorbacks’ 69-51 win over Western Kentucky the following night. Arkansas returns to Bud Walton for the second of just four home games this semester, hosting Kansas State Wednesday at 7 p.m.MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY: Razorback cross country wrapped up the season last week at the NCAA Championships. Junior Dorian Ulrey led the men’s squad with a sixth-place finish and his first cross country All-America honor and his fifth certificate of the 2009 season. As a team, Arkansas was 26th in the country. For the women’s team, Miranda Walker and Alyssa Allison competed individually with Walker finishing 124th and Allison 195th. The men’s and women’s track and field seasons begin Friday, Jan. 8, with the hosting of the Arkansas Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center.FOOTBALL (7-5, 3-5): Arkansas finished the regular season with a 7-5 record. The Razorbacks now await word on their bowl destination. UA’s bowl appearance this season will be the 37th trip in the history of the program. MEN’S GOLF: The Razorbacks are off until Feb. 14-16 when they compete at the Battle at the Beach in Newport Beach, Calif.WOMEN’S GOLF: The Razorbacks are idle until the Central District Invitational Feb. 22-23, in Parrish, Fla. GYMNASTICS Arkansas opens the season Jan. 9 at home against No. 20 Arizona. The Razorbacks, ranked No. 8 in the preseason, finished fifth in the nation last year.SWIMMING AND DIVING (4-1, 2-1): Arkansas returns to action Jan. 3-5 at the Georgia Diving Invitational while the entire squad returns to the pool with a dual meet against North Texas on Jan. 9 at Arkansas Natatorium. WOMEN’S TENNIS: Arkansas competes again on Jan. 23 against Oklahoma State and St. Louis at George M. Billingsley Tennis Center and Dills Indoor Stadium.MEN’S TENNIS: The Razorbacks return to action Jan. 17 to start the spring season against the Washington Huskies in Fayetteville.VOLLEYBALL (13-18, 7-13): The Razorbacks finished the season with a five-set loss in last week’s finale at Ole Miss. Arkansas won the first two sets, but Ole Miss rallied for the 23-25, 21-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-13 victory. In the loss, Jasmine Norton and Kelli Stipanovich tallied 17 kills to pace the team, and Kristin Seaton added 10 kills in her final match at Arkansas. Four Razorbacks finished the match with double-digit digs, led by Phoebe Bautista’s 19 digs. Norton had 16 digs to complete a double-double, and Katelyn McCarthy and Mackenzie Rhea totaled 15 and 11 digs, respectively. Stipanovich registered a career-high seven blocks, including three solos. The Razorbacks end the season with the sixth-best record in the SEC after being picked 10th in the preseason poll. Norton finished her freshman campaign with a league-high 4.44 kills per set during conference play. All-conference honors will be announced Monday afternoon to begin the postseason awards season.OLYMPIC SPORTS PRESS CONFERENCE:Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Barnhill Arena interview room.