UA volleyball hosts Mississippi Sunday

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team continues its Southeastern Conference home stand hosting Mississippi in a 1:00 p.m. match Sunday in Barnhill Arena. Arkansas improved to 10-3 overall and 3-2 in the SEC with a three-game win over Mississippi State Friday and must remain focused for a much-improved Ole Miss team Sunday. "Ole Miss got a big win over Kentucky last week and is probably the most improved team in the SEC this year," said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. "They serve and pass very well and have the ball control to frustrate a more physical team offensively." Arkansas got a taste of that frustration Friday in the win over State. MSU ranks among the SEC and nation’s leaders in service aces and is also a very good passing team but the Bulldogs struggled with their normally solid serve committing 16 service errors in the loss. Meanwhile Arkansas’ balanced offense saw several hitters play well including senior Denitza Koleva who had a double-double for kills and digs. "This really is a pretty balanced team," said Poole. "We have several players who can step up either offensively or defensively for a spark or to lead us. We’ve played some pretty good matches this year but still have yet to have everyone play their best in the same match." The SEC has seen a bit of a shake up this year as most of the teams are vastly improved from just a year ago. National powerhouse Florida used to have a strangle-hold on the SEC but has lost to unranked South Carolina and went five games with unranked Kentucky Friday. Ole Miss defeated Kentucky and 13th-ranked LSU is the only team undefeated in conference play. "It’s been crazy this year," said Poole. "There are no easy matches. It’s great to see the improvement in the conference and we now have a league in which anyone truly is capable of winning any match. It’s making us all have to play better and at a higher level." Arkansas wraps up a five-match home stand Wednesday hosting LSU at 7:00 p.m. For more information about Arkansas volleyball, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.