FAYETTEVILLE – The Razorback volleyball team began day two of the Arkansas Invitational with a straight-set win (25-20, 25-20, 25-19) over Stephen F. Austin. Chanell Clark-Bibbs paced the team with a match-high 11 kills and seven total blocks. Arkansas improves to 2-0 on the young season and now faces Michigan Saturday evening in the championship match of the season-opening tournament.
“We were making too many unforced errors early so I had to call a timeout,” head coach Robert Pulliza said. “We need to re-gather and get more assertive so we could start moving forward. We did that and were able to keep the upper hand for most of the match.”
First serve against the Wolverines is 7 p.m. (CT) at Barnhill Arena and will be streamed live on SEC Network+, the digital platform of the newly launched network. Web streams are available at SECNetwork.com, ESPN3.com or through the WatchESPN app. This will be the second-ever meeting between Arkansas and Michigan in Fayetteville and the first since the 2000 season.
The Razorbacks’ middle blocker combined for 19 kills against SFA with Ana Sofia Jusino adding eight kills to go along with the 11 from Clark-Bibbs. Meredith Hays had 10 kills in the match. Definitely, Arkansas held the Ladyjacks to a .011 hitting percentage behind 11 total team blocks. Monica Bollinger led the effort behind the block with 14 digs. The junior libero is now just 10 shy of 400 career digs.
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
• Improve to 4-0 all-time vs. Stephen F. Austin
o 3-0 vs. the Ladyjacks in Fayetteville
• Five players with at least four kills
o Led by 11 kills from Chanell Clark-Bibbs
• Five players with at least two total blocks
o Led by seven blocks from Chanell Clark-Bibbs
• Milestone Watch
o Monica Bolliger: 10 shy of 400 career digs
o Meredith Hays: 11 shy of 28th place on career kills list
o Ana Sofia Jusino: Four shy of 100 career blocks
• Saturday promotions vs. Michigan
o First serve at 7 p.m. [SEC Network+]
o Knit Hat Giveaway: First 50 students receive the official team knit hat
o Post-match autographs: Razorbacks will sign autographs for all fans
o UA Faculty & Staff Day: FREE admission for all Arkansas faculty and staff with valid UA ID card
o UA Alumni Association Appreciation Day: FREE admission for all UA Alumni Association members
For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Twitter.