FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas volleyball closed out its weekend with a five-set loss to LSU Sunday afternoon at Barnhill Arena. Senior Meredith Hays had a team-high 18 kills while junior Chanell Clark-Bibbs matched her season high with 17 kills against the Tigers. With Sunday’s result, the Razorbacks are now 11-13 overall with a 5-6 record in SEC play.
Hays completed her eighth double-double performance of the season with 11 digs against LSU. Four of her eight double-doubles have come during conference play. It was her second of the season against LSU. Sunday’s effort was the 17th double-double of her Razorback career. Hays has now tallied 15 or more kills in 16 matches this season. She recorded her 400th kill of the season in Sunday’s match.
For the third time in fourth matches, Clark-Bibbs had 17 kills which equals the season high she first set Oct. 24 against No. 16 Kentucky. She also finished Sunday’s contest with a match-high seven total blocks, just one off her season high. Clark-Bibbs paced the Razorbacks to 11.0 total team blocks for their 10th match of the year with double-digit blocks. In her last four matches, she is averaging 4.13 kills per set.
Defensively, junior libero Monica Bollinger led the team with 12 digs to go along with three assists. In addition to Hays’ 11 digs, freshman Holly Hankenson was the third Razorback into double digits with 10 digs of her own. She was also strong from the service line with a season-high three aces. Twin sister Bailee Hankenson finished the match with 50 assists, seven digs and a season-high six blocks.
Sunday’s match was the Razorbacks’ ninth five setter of the season and first loss after winning the first two sets. In the decisive fifth set, LSU (14-7, 9-3 SEC) jumped out to an early 4-0 before the Razorbacks got on the board with a kill by junior Liz Fortado. After the teams switched sides with the visitors leading 8-2, Arkansas put together a run to close to within three points. However, the Tigers held steady and closed out the match with an ace.
Prior to Sunday’s match, head coach Robert Pulliza was presented a commemorative game ball by Senior Associate AD Julie Cromer in recognition of his 100th career victory. The milestone win came Oct. 12 in a five-set triumph over Georgia at Barnhill Arena.
The Razorbacks now face a road weekend that begins Friday at Auburn. First serve of the SEC matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) at Auburn Arena. It will be the only meeting between the two teams this season. Arkansas leads the all-time series against Auburn, 33-8, and has won 16 of 21 matches played on the Tigers’ home floor. The team will then travel to Athens, Ga., to face Georgia on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Final
LSU 3, #ARKVB 2 (21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-9)
Time: 2:18 | Attendance: 813
Fayetteville, Ark. | Barnhill Arena
#RazorFacts
• Stat Leaders vs. LSU
o Kills: 18 – Meredith Hays
o Digs: 12 – Monica Bollinger
o Blocks: 7 – Chanell Clark-Bibbs
• Meredith Hays recorded her eighth double-double of the season
o Finished match with 18 kills and 11 digs
o Fourth double-double during SEC play
• Chanell Clark-Bibbs posted fourth-consecutive match with double-digit kills
o Ninth match this season with 10+ kills and .300 or higher hitting percentage
• Next match: Nov. 7 at Auburn, first serve at 6 p.m. (CT)
o SEC Network+ stream: http://es.pn/1u0EFHX
For more information on Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.