Trojans Sweep Georgia Southern in Sun Belt Opener

STATESBORO, Ga. – Little Rock volleyball (5-6, 1-0) opened up the Sun Belt Conference schedule with a 3-0 sweep of Georgia Southern (25-22, 25-23, 25-16) on Friday night.
 
The Trojans sweep of the Eagles extends the program's winning streak over conference opponents to 24 matches, second-longest in the nation.
 
Edina Selimovic put up a career-high 17 kills with five blocks. Selimovic also hit a season-high .577 for the match on 26 attempts.
 
Setter Megan Mathis had a near double-double performance with 32 assists and nine digs.
 
Little Rock hadn't trailed in any set until Georgia Southern took a 1-0 lead to begin the third frame. Both squads battled for the lead until Little Rock finally climbed on top at 5-4 and led for the rest of the match. The Trojans took their largest lead of the match at 19-8 with a kill by Marina Avram. The Eagles cut the Trojan lead to eight points at 21-13, but they would come no closer to Little Rock's big lead. With match point at 24-16, a kill by Carolee Dillard put the match away.
 
The Trojans jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set before the Eagles retorted with a kill. Georgia Southern clawed its way back into the set to only trail by one at 10-9. Little Rock took a five-point lead at 15-10 after a Georgia Southern attack error and two kills each from Selimovic and Avram. The Eagles got right back into and tied the Trojans at 18-18 after an 8-3 run. Tied 19-19, Little Rock went up 21-19 after a Georgia Southern attack error and Selimovic's 10th kill of the match. After a service error brought the match to 22-21, a kill by Selimovic and a block by Avram and Selimovic gave Little Rock set point at 24-21. Georgia Southern called its final timeout to regroup before bringing the match to a single point at 24-23. The Trojans took a 2-0 lead for the match as long service error by the Eagles ended the frame at 25-23.
 
Like the second set, Little Rock started the match with a 5-1 lead. Georgia Southern tied the match on four straight points at 5-5. The Trojans responded with an 11-1 run before the Eagles took their second timeout of the set at 16-6. With Little Rock up 17-7, Georgia Southern went on a 6-1 run before the Trojans called their first timeout of the set at 18-13. The Eagles continued to close the gap, narrowing the Trojan lead to two points at 22-20. Little Rock was able to hold on as kills from Selimovic, Mathis and Avram gave the Trojans a 25-22 win.
 
Dillard finished the match with 10 kills and four blocks, while Avram tallied eight kills and nine digs.
 
Priscila Almeida led the Trojans with 15 digs. Sydnee Martin was close behind as she scooped up 12.  Kelsey Leech added three digs and an ace.

Veronica Marin added two kills and three block, while Miona Milovanovic came up with a kill and three blocks.
 
Little Rock returns to action next Friday as it faces Troy in the home opener at the Jack Stephens Center.