FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas volleyball team capped its weekend with a five-set victory (17-25, 25-23, 25-15, 19-25, 15-11) Saturday night over Michigan in the title game of the Arkansas Invitational at Barnhill Arena. With the program’s first-ever win against the Wolverines, Arkansas improves to 3-0 for the third-consecutive season.
In addition to the team trophy, the Razorbacks also earned individual accolades with Chanell Clark-Bibbs earning MVP honors and Monica Bollinger and Meredith Hays being named to the all-tournament team. Making her Razorback debut, Clark-Bibbs finished the Arkansas Invitational hitting .327 with 2.27 kills per set and posting a team-best 1.64 blocks per set. She also ended the weekend with a team-leading four service aces.
Bollinger collected her 400th career dig in Saturday’s match against Michigan while Hays moved into 28th place on the program’s career kills list after a 17-kill performance versus the Wolverines. The Hereford, Texas, native now has 477 kills as a Razorback to move past Ashanti Taylor (1998-99/471k) on the list.
The Arkansas blocking efforts continued to be a presence in Saturday’s win, posting 16.0 total team blocks to double up the figure by its opponent. Four different players registered at least five blocks, led by a match high eight total blocks by Ana Sofia Jusino. With her fourth block of the match, she reached the 100 mark in career. Through the first weekend of the 2014 season, the Razorbacks are averaging 3.36 blocks per set as a team.
Freshman setter Bailee Hankenson collected the team’s first double-double of the season with 36 assists and 14 digs which tied Bollinger for the high mark on the team. She added six kills in addition to her setting and defensive duties. Five different Razorbacks had at least six kills in the match. Clark-Bibbs and Danielle Harbin each had eight kills against the Wolverines.
Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com or by calling 800-982-HOGS (4647). Beginning at $40, all season-ticket packages include a free team knit hat. Single-match tickets are $5 for adults while UA students and fans 17 years and younger get in free.
#RazorFacts
• First win in program history vs. Michigan
• Improve to 3-0 for the third-consecutive season
• Five different players with at least six kills
• Four different players with at least five blocks
o 16.0 total team blocks: most since Sept. 14, 2013, against Texas State
• Milestone Watch
o Monica Bolliger: Collected the 400th dig of her career; currently with 404 career digs
o Meredith Hays: Moved into 28th on career kills list; currently with 477 career kills
o Ana Sofia Jusino: Collected the 100th block of her career; currently with 104 career blocks
• Bailee Hankenson (36 assists, 14 digs) recorded team’s first double-double of the season
• Also defeated Stephen F. Austin and Tennessee State during the Arkansas Invitational
• Up next: K-State Varney Invitational (Sept. 4-6) in Manhattan, Kan.
o First trip to Manhattan, Kan., since the 2007 season
• Next home match: Sept. 9 vs. Oral Roberts, first serve at 7 p.m.
For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.