LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock volleyball team held a 2-1 edge over league-leading Arkansas State through three sets, but the visiting Red Wolves rallied in the fourth and fifth sets for a 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-11, 15-4) victory over the Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center
on Wednesday night.
Edina Selimovic led the Trojans with 13 kills while
Marina Avram,
Veronica Marin and
Miona Milovanovic all had at least six kills to their name. Priscila Almedia was the leading digger for the match with 25, and
Megan Mathis tallied 34 assists in the loss.
Little Rock (7-9, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) looked primed for the upset over Arkansas State (16-1, 7-0) with a lead after the first three sets. But the Red Wolves dominated in the final two sets, outscoring the Trojans by a combined 40-15.
With the Trojans trailing by just one point at 7-6 early in the fourth set, Arkansas State took over and went on a run that stretched for the rest of the night. The Red Wolves tallied 33 of the final 42 points, sinking the home team's chance at an upset.
Arkansas State was in charge early in the first set, taking a 15-12 lead and forcing the Trojans to take a timeout. But that timeout seemed to invigorate the Trojans, as they scored four of the next five points to tie the set at 16-16 behind consecutive blocks by Dillard.
When the Red Wolves scored the next point to take a 17-16 advantage, though, the Trojans really began their run. Little Rock ran off seven consecutive points behind the service of
Marina Avram, running their lead to 23-17 before Arkansas State managed to break it. By that point, Little Rock had all but won the set and eventually took it 25-19.
The second set belong to the Red Wolves right from the get-go. Arkansas State won the first four points of the set, forcing a Trojan timeout. The visitors would only extend their lead, getting the Trojans to take another timeout when they trailed 16-8. The Red Wolves would eventually win the set by seven points.
The third set saw the Trojans go ahead 15-8 and hold a commanding lead, but the Red Wolves fought back to tie the set at 23-23. With the home crowd cheering them on, though, the Trojans scored the next two points on blocks to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Selimovic and Dillard had a match-high six blocks apiece. Dillard recorded her most solo blocks in a match this season with three while tallying four kills.
Avram came up one kill shy of a double-double as she recorded nine kills and 10 digs.
Marin added three blocks to her eight kills while Milovanovic also added three to her six kills.
Kelsey Leech earned eight digs, and
Sydnee Martin tallied six.
With its brief time at home now concluded, Little Rock heads on the road this weekend for games at Appalachian State
on Friday and at Georgia State
on Sunday.
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