SIUE Cougar Classic Tournament Champions
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the University of Arkansas volleyball team beat Northern Kentucky in four sets Saturday afternoon to complete an undefeated weekend at the SIUE Cougar Classic. The Razorbacks were paced by a match-high 16 kills from Pilar Victoria while Chanell Clark-Bibbs added 13 kills and four total blocks. With Saturday’s win, Arkansas improves to 5-1 on the young season.
FINAL
Arkansas 3, Northern Kentucky 1 (25-21, 25-18, 12-25, 25-11)
Attendance: 95 | Time: 1:32
Vadalabene Center | Edwardsville, Ill.
#RazorFacts
• Stat Leaders vs. Northern Kentucky
o Kills: 16 – Pilar Victoria
o Digs: 15 – Okiana Valle
o Blocks: 5.0 (0-5) – Adrien Wohlschlaeger
Having dropped its first set of the weekend in the third game, the Razorbacks used an early four-point push in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead following a tough serve from Clark-Bibbs. The advantage grew to double digits at 21-11 with another kill from Victoria. Back-to-back blocks from Breana Jones and Adrien Wohlschlaeger lifted the lead to 23-11 before the team clinched the win on a Northern Kentucky attack error.
The Razorbacks hit .480 in the final frame while holding Northern Kentucky (1-4) to a .000 hitting percentage in the fourth set. Clark-Bibbs and Jones accounted for seven of Arkansas’ 14 kills in the set. The Razorbacks closed out the match by winning nine of the final 11 points.
In game one, the score was titled at 7-all when Arkansas used a mini-run of three points to take control of the set. The lead grew to as many as seven points before NKU pulled to within two late in the set with the Razorbacks leading 21-19. Another three-point surge gave the team cushion, and on the third set point, Barbara Dapic found the floor to close out the opener.
Arkansas jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second set after a kill and block from Dapic on consecutive plays. The Razorbacks built on their lead until they were up by double digits at 15-5. The Norse chipped away until they were down just five at 22-17 but Arkansas took advantage of its opponent’s miscues down the stretch, including a missed serve on set point to gift the team a 2-0 match lead.
Making her second start of the weekend, Wohlschlaeger tallied a career-best 40 assists in the win to go along with five digs, five total blocks and three kills. Victoria was just two digs shy of her fourth double-double of the season. Okiana Valle and Kori Ortiz led the efforts behind the block with 15 and 10 digs, respectively. The Razorbacks had a season-high 10 total blocks in the win.
With its undefeated weekend in the books, Arkansas returns to Barnhill Arena Sept. 11-12 for the Razorback Invitational which also features Northwestern State, Southeast Missouri and UT Arlington. Beginning at $40 and a free team knit hat with each purchase, season tickets are currently on sale online or through the Razorback Ticket Center by calling 800-982-4647. Single-match general admission is $5 while UA students and youth—17 years and younger—get in free.
For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.
