GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team faces its second of three-consecutive ranked opponents when it takes on eighth-ranked Florida Sunday afternoon at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville. First serve of the match is set for 12:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed live on SEC Network+. The Razorbacks are riding a three-match winning streak and carry a 5-1 record in SEC play.
Sunday’s match on SEC Network+ is available to fans through the WatchESPN app, ESPN3.com and SECNetwork.com. For more information about Arkansas volleyball including in-match updates throughout the season, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Arkansas is 11-8 overall and is in the midst of a stretch in which its facing seven-consecutive opponents that advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament. At 5-1 in SEC play, the Razorbacks have the second-best record in the league with Florida (13-3, 7-0 SEC) tied with Kentucky atop the SEC standings. Arkansas is looking for its first-ever win in Gainesville and the program’s first in the series since the 2007 season.
Senior Meredith Hays enters Sunday’s road match ranked 13th in the NCAA with 4.65 kills per set and 15th in the country with 5.16 points per set. She leads the SEC in both categories. Hays is just 15 kills shy of becoming the 19th player in program history to reach the 800 career mark. During conference play, the Razorbacks’ offense has registered a .276 hitting percentage behind the direction of freshman setter Bailee Hankenson.
In its last outing, Arkansas knocked off No. 20 Texas A&M in a midweek matchup in College Station. Hankenson, Hays and Samantha Skinner each tallied a double-double to help the Razorbacks capture their first ranked win since the 2012 season. It was also the program’s first win in College Station. Hankenson, Hays and Skinner are the first Arkansas trio with double-doubles in one match since Roslandy Acosta, Jasmine Norton and Raymariely Santos did so in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Seven different players had at least five digs and Arkansas out-blocked its opponent for the 13th time this season in the win over the Aggies. Collectively, the Razorbacks lead the SEC with 14.13 digs per set during conference play. Junior libero Monica Bollinger moved into sole possession of 20th on the program’s career digs list in the Texas A&M match. She is fifth among SEC liberos with 3.93 digs per set this season.
Following their match against Florida, the Razorbacks return home for their next match when they host No. 12 Kentucky on Oct. 24 at Barnhill Arena. Arkansas and Florida will play for a second time this season Nov. 23 in Fayetteville on the SEC Network.