Razorbacks Drop Weekend Finale at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team closed out the second week of conference play with a straight-set road loss at Auburn. Freshman Hailey Dirrigl registered a team-high 11 kills while redshirt senior Pilar Victoria posted a team-high 15 digs and four total blocks. With the setback, the Razorbacks are now 11-5 overall and 1-3 in SEC play.

The Razorbacks return to Barnhill Arena to continue SEC play, Friday, Oct. 6 against Ole Miss. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT). In conjunction with the match, Arkansas will host its Fall Fest and 90’s Night. Individual match tickets are $5 at the door while UA students and fans 17 years and younger receive free admission.

Fall Fest, 90’s Night Coming to Barnhill Arena

FINAL
Auburn 3, Arkansas 0 | Box Score
Attendance: 861 | Time: 1:35
Auburn Arena (Auburn, Ala.)

#RazorStats

  • Leaders vs Auburn
    • Kills: Hailey Dirrigl – 11
    • Digs: Pilar Victoria – 15
    • Blocks: Elizabeth Pamphile, Pilar Victoria – 4.0

With her 11th dig of the afternoon, junior libero Okiana Valle moved into sole possession of sixth place on the program’s all-time digs list. She currently has 1,108 career digs, just 22 shy of cracking Arkansas’ top five. Freshman Paige Johnson had a career-high outing with 11 digs to surpass her previous best of seven. She was also one of five Razorbacks with an ace in the match. Sophomore setter Rachel Rippee finished one dig shy of a double-double—25 assists, nine digs—against the Tigers.

After Auburn (10-3, 3-1 SEC) won the opening set, the Razorbacks responded by winning eight of the first 10 points of the second frame. The run of points was spurred by a six-point serving run by Rippee. However, the home team pulled even at 9-all with a 7-1 run of its own. With the score tied at 14-14, the Tigers scored on four of the next five points to go ahead for good. Arkansas pulled to within one—trailing 23-22—before Auburn took the 2-0 match lead.

The third set featured eight ties and three lead changes. Kelly O’Brien and Logan Brown teamed up for a tandem block and a 17-16 advantage on the scoreboard. However, Auburn used a 6-1 surge to regain the lead at 22-18 and went on to have match points at 24-21. Victoria saved the first with a kill, and after a successful challenge by head coach Jason Watson on a would-be Auburn kill, O’Brien and Victoria put up a block to tie the set at 24-all. The host Tigers steadied and on their third match point, secured the win with a kill.

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