TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Meredith Hays turned in a double-double performance and Chanell Clark-Bibbs matched her season high but the University of Arkansas volleyball team lost to Alabama in four sets Sunday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. With Sunday’s result, the Razorbacks are now 11-11 overall and 5-4 in SEC play.
Hays finished the match with 19 kills and 17 digs while Clark-Bibbs tallied 17 kills for the second-consecutive outing. Defensively, libero Monica Bollinger tied for the match lead with 19 digs and Liz Fortado had a season-high five blocks against the Crimson Tide. With her effort, Bollinger moved up to 17th place on the program’s all-time list and now has 698 career digs.
Coupled with seven kills by Ana Sofia Jusino, the Razorback middles combined for 24 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Samantha Skinner added seven kills in the loss. From the setter’s position, Bailee Hankenson dished out 43 assists and picked up seven digs. From the service line, Clark-Bibbs tallied an ace and now has a service winner in eight of Arkansas’ nine SEC matches.
Bollinger moved past Amanda Rudolph (1998-00) and Paula Castro (2002-03) during Sunday’s match into her current position on the program’s career digs list. With 698 career digs, she is just two shy of becoming the 17th player in program history to reach the 700 mark. Hankenson and Kori Ortiz each had seven digs in the match.
In the opening set, Arkansas led 24-19 before the Crimson Tide rallied to pull even at 24-all. The two teams went back and forth until the Razorbacks clinched the game on its ninth set point on an Alabama miscue. Three of Fortado’s five blocks came down the final stretch of set one including a tandem effort with Jusino to give Arkansas the 29-28 lead. The Crimson Tide went on to win the next three sets to secure the match.
The Razorbacks return to action Friday, Oct. 31, with another road match in Columbia, Mo., against Mizzou. First serve of the SEC matchup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at the Hearnes Center. Arkansas’ next home match is Sunday, Nov. 2, when the team hosts LSU at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville. Both matches are scheduled for stream on SEC Network+ which is available through the WatchESPN app.
Final
Alabama 3, Arkansas 1 (28-30, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20)
Attendance: 627 | Time: 2:10
Foster Auditorium | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
#RazorFacts
• Stat Leaders at Alabama
o Kills: 19 – Meredith Hays
o Digs: 19 – Monica Bollinger
o Blocks: 5 – Liz Fortado
• Double-Double Watch:
o Meredith Hays: 19 kills, 17 digs (seventh of the season; 16th of her career)
• Milestone Watch:
o Monica Bollinger: Moved into 17th place in program history with 698 career digs
• Chanell Clark-Bibbs:
o Hit .333 or higher in seven of eight matches with 10+ kills this season
o Has at least one service ace in eight of nine SEC matches this year
• Danielle Harbin (Mobile) and Samantha Skinner (Birmingham) are Alabama natives
• Third SEC Network appearance in last six matches
• Next match: Friday, Oct. 31, at Missouri, first serve at 6:30 p.m. in Columbia, Mo., on SEC Network+
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