Valle Cracks Top Three in Loss at MissouriValle Cracks Top Three in Loss at Missouri
Volleyball

Valle Cracks Top Three in Loss at Missouri

The Razorbacks next return to Barnhill Arena for two matches beginning Wednesday when the team hosts No. 6 Kentucky at 7 p.m. (CT).

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Junior libero Okiana Valle moved into third place on the program’s career digs list Sunday afternoon in the Razorbacks’ four-set road loss to Missouri. She led all players with 15 digs while Hailey Dirrigl and Pilar Victoria paced the offense with 15 and 12 kills, respectively. With Sunday’s setback, Arkansas carries an 18-10 record into the final week of the regular season.

The Razorbacks next return to Barnhill Arena for two matches beginning Wednesday when the team hosts No. 6 Kentucky at 7 p.m. (CT). Senior day for Victoria, Krista Kolbinskie and Kori Ortiz is scheduled for Nov. 25 against Auburn. Arkansas is 9-2 in home matches this season.

FINAL

Missouri 3, Arkansas 1 | Box Score

Attendance: 1,316 | Time: 1:54

Hearnes Center (Columbia, Mo.)

#RazorStats

  • Leaders vs Missouri
    • Kills: Hailey Dirrigl – 15
    • Digs: Okiana Valle – 15
    • Blocks: Kelly O’Brien – 4-0
With her seventh dig of the match, Valle moved past Yarleen Santiago (1997-99) into sole possession of the No. 3 spot on Arkansas’ career digs list and now has 1,286 digs in just under three full seasons. Sunday’s match marked her 13th with 15 or more digs this season.

Career Top 5 Digs at Arkansas

  1. Ashley Miller (2004-07) – 2,126
  2. Krystal Osborne (1994-97) – 1,659
  3. Okiana Valle (2015-pres.) – 1,286
  4. Yarleen Santaigo (1997-99) – 1,277
  5. Kim Storey (1995-98) – 1,143
Dirrigl has now recorded double-digit kills in 12 of 16 conference matches, including six outings with at least 15 kills. Overall, she has put down at least 10 kills in 19 matches this season. Facing a tough Missouri block all night, Victoria still managed to collect 12 kills. She has reached double figures in 27 of 28 matches this season.

With the first set in hand, Missouri (19-10, 12-4 SEC) led 15-11 in the second set before the Razorbacks rattled off the next four points to pull even on the scoreboard. The push included a pair of blocks featuring junior Kelly O’Brien. From that point, the teams settled into a back-and-forth rhythm. Freshman Klaire Trainor served up an ace for a 23-22 lead but Missouri tied the score on the next rally; the second set featured 12 ties. After a Victoria kill and a Mizzou attack error, Arkansas had its first set win in Columbia since the Tigers joined the conference in 2012.

Missouri used an early run in the third set on its way to securing a 2-1 match lead. After falling behind by three to start the fourth, the Razorbacks won four straight to take a 4-3 lead on an ace by Elizabeth Pamphile. The score was tied 7-7 when the Tigers used a five-point surge to create some cushion. Arkansas never got closer than four points for the remainder of the match.

Pamphile finished the match with eight kills and now has at least seven kills in 12 conference matches during her freshman campaign. She also tallied two aces and two total blocks against Missouri.

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