Trojans End Season With 3-0 Loss to Arkansas State

STATESBORO – Little Rock volleyball (14-14, 9-7) ended its season with a 3-0 loss (20-25, 17-25, 24-26) to Arkansas State in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Saturday night at Hanner Fieldhouse on the campus of Georgia Southern.
 
Priscila Almeida became the new Little Rock single-season record holder for digs with 538 as she tallied a match-high 24. Marina Avram led the Trojans on offense with 10 kills while Megan Mathis racked up 30 assists.
 
Little Rock started the match on a slow note as Arkansas State led from wire-to-wire and took the set with a 25-20 win. Down 9-7, the Trojans gave up a 6-1 run to the Red Wolves. Down 16-8 Little Rock did score five straight point to cut the deficit to 16-13, but the deficit didn't get any smaller as A-State eventually took the set. Avram led the frame with five kills and Almeida recorded a set-high 10 digs.
 
Down 9-5 to begin the second set, Little Rock rallied with seven straight points to take a 12-9 lead with Edina Selimovic recording three straight aces during the run. Tied 15-15, the momentum shifted in Arkansas State's favor as it ended the frame on a 10-2 run.
 
The third set was by far the closest of the night as both teams were within two points of each other for the duration of the frame. Little Rock held a two-point lead at 15-13, but Arkansas State came back with four straight points to take a 17-15 lead. Down by two at 22-20, the Trojans tied the match at 22-22 with kills by Miona Milovanovic and Veronica Marin. Tied 24-24, Arkansas State took the final two points on Little Rock attack errors.
 
Selimovic ended her Little Rock career with eight kills, three aces and a solo block. Carolee Dillard racked up six kills and led the Trojans with two blocks. Marin tallied six kills while Milovanovic came up with five of her own.
 
Mathis ended her Trojan career with a near double-double as she came up with nine digs and four kills in addition to her 30 assists.
 
Kelsey Leech scooped up 11 digs while Sydnee Martin came up with four.
 
Little Rock ends the season with an overall record of 14-14. This is the third straight season Little Rock has recorded at least 14 wins.