Valle, Harbin Lead in Loss at No. 23 Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind her third 20-dig effort of the season, sophomore libero Okiana Valle moved into the program’s career top 20 during Friday night’s loss to No. 23 Kentucky. Senior co-captain Danielle Harbin was the only player on the floor to reach double figures with a match-high 15 kills. The Razorbacks close out their weekend road trip with a Sunday matchup at Tennessee with first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (CT) at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
FINAL
#23 Kentucky 3, Arkansas 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17) | Box Score
Attendance: 890 | Time: 1:26
Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, Ky.)
#RazorStats
• Leaders vs. #23 Kentucky
o Kills: Danielle Harbin – 15
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 20
o Blocks: Kelly O’Brien – 3.0 (0-3)
Valle moved into the program’s career top 20 with her fourth dig of the match. She picked up 10 digs in the first set and led all players with 20 digs, good for the ninth 20-dig performance of her career. Valle passed Amanda Rudolph (1998-00) and Kelli Stipanovich (2008-11) who previously held the 19th and 20th positions, respectively, on the career digs list.
Career Dig Top 20
1. Ashley Miller (2004-07) – 2,126 (No. 2 in SEC history)
…
16. Phoebe Bautista (2007-09) – 818
17. Jennifer Haaser (2000-04) – 783
18. Paula Castro (2002-03) – 696
19. Okiana Valle (2016-pres.) – 694 and counting…
20. Amanda Rudolph (1998-00) – 693
Harbin registered her seventh match of the season with 15 or more kills to go along with eight digs and two total blocks. In her second-consecutive start, freshman Reagan Robinson posted a career-high 12 digs and eight kills, just one off her high established in the Razorbacks’ previous outing at Missouri.
Arkansas (3-15, 1-5 SEC) erased an early nine-point deficit in the first set and pulled to within one at 18-17 after a Harbin kill. However, the home team won six of the last nine points to take the opening frame. Early in the second set, Kentucky used 10-1 surge to create a cushion on the scoreboard. Trailing by as many as eight, the Razorbacks got back within five late in the set on a kill by Robinson but the home team went into intermission with a 2-0 match lead.
The third set followed a similar pattern with Kentucky (14-4, 7-0 SEC) taking an 11-6 advantage after a stretch in which it won seven of nine points. Back-to-back kills from Breana Jones and Robinson cut the Razorbacks’ deficit to three. Harbin put down her final kill of the match to save a match point but the Wildcats closed it out on the next point.
Arkansas’ next home match is Friday, Oct. 21, when its hosts Alabama at 7 p.m. which begins a four-match home stand. For more information about tickets, fans can call 800-982-HOGS (4647) or buy tickets online.
