FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the second time this weekend, the University of Arkansas volleyball team tallied a season-high hitting percentage in Sunday’s straight-set win over Mississippi State at Barnhill Arena. Behind four players with at least seven kills, Arkansas hit .354 against MSU. The Razorbacks improve to 2-0 in SEC play for the eighth time in program history with Sunday’s victory.
Arkansas (8-7, 2-0 SEC) committed just eight attack errors in Sunday’s match, the fewest by the program since the 2011 season in a match against South Carolina. The Razorbacks were paced by a match-high 11 kills from Meredith Hays and nine kills each by middle blockers Chanell Clark-Bibbs and Ana Sofia Jusino. Samantha Skinner rounded out the balanced attack with seven kills.
The Razorbacks also picked up a season-high seven service aces against Mississippi State (5-12, 0-2). Four players had an ace including two each from Clark-Bibbs, Hays and Bailee Hankenson. Skinner also tallied a service winner. Arkansas has picked up its production from the service line with at least three aces in four of its last five matches.
Defensively, libero Monica Bollinger had a team-high 10 digs behind the block. She was one of four Razorbacks with at least six digs with nine from Kori Ortiz and six each Hankenson and Krista Kolbinskie. Clark-Bibbs and Jusino led the team’s defensive effort at the net with four blocks apiece. With eight total team blocks, Arkansas has now out-blocked its opponent for the 11th time in 15 matches this season.
Arkansas improved to 36-5 all-time against Mississippi State and has won seven straight in the series between the two programs. All seven during the streak have been straight-set decisions. With the win, the Razorbacks have won 19 of the 20 matches played in Fayetteville against MSU. The program is now 10-2 against Mississippi State under head coach Robert Pulliza.
Season tickets to join the crowd at Barnhill Arena are on sale and can be purchased online 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. Arkansas’ next home match is Oct. 8 against Ole Miss in a nationally televised broadcast on the SEC Network.
Final
Arkansas 3, Mississippi State 0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-18)
Attendance: 721 | Time: 1:26
#RazorFacts
• Stat Leaders vs. Mississippi State
o Kills: 11 – Meredith Hays
o Digs: 10 – Monica Bollinger
o Blocks: 4 – Chanell Clark-Bibbs, Ana Sofia Jusino
• Season-high .354 hitting percentage [previous: .339 vs. Tennessee, Sept. 26]
• Season-high seven service aces [previous: six vs. Tennessee, Sept. 26]
• Out-blocked opponent for the 11th time in 15 matches this season
• 2-0 in SEC play for the eighth time in program history
o Second-consecutive season under head coach Robert Pulliza
• Lead all-time series vs. Mississippi State, 36-5
o Won seven straight against the Bulldogs, all by straight sets
o Improve to 19-1 in Fayetteville against MSU
• Milestone Watch:
o Monica Bollinger moved into 24th place in program history with 585 career digs
• Up next: Oct. 5 at LSU [SEC Network+]
• Next home match: Oct. 8 vs. Ole Miss [SEC Network]
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