Trojans Hang On to Beat Incarnate Word in Five Sets

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – It took five sets, but Little Rock volleyball (4-7) hung on to defeat Incarnate Word (4-9) with a 3-2 win (25-15, 19-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-12) on Friday night at Shelton Gym on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.
 
Edina Selimovic put up a season-high 19 kills while leading the match with six total blocks (one solo and five assisted). Taylor Lindberg came up two assists shy of her career high with 48, but she was able to set a new season high. Carolle Dillard had a match-high .389 hitting percentage with 11 kills on 18 attempts.
 
Tied 2-2 heading into the final set, Little Rock stumbled out of the gate as Incarnate Word took an 8-3 lead. The Trojans weren't about to go down without a fight as they rallied with five straight points to tie the set at 8-8. With both side swapping points until the 11-11 mark, Little Rock went on a final 4-1 run to claim the match.
 
The Trojans lost a heartbreaker of a set in the fourth. With Little Rock claiming match point at 24-21, Incarnate Word scored three consecutive points to tie the set at 24. The Trojans again took set point at 25-24, but the Cardinals answered with three straight points to take the set and continue the match.
 
Except for a brief tie at 1-1, Little Rock was in the driver's seat in the third set as the Trojans took the frame with an eight-point margin of victory.
 
After starting the match with a 25-15 win, things went a little differently for Little Rock in the second set as Incarnate Word took a 25-19 win. Tied 17-17, UIW went on an 8-2 run to claim the frame.
 
Little Rock won the first set with a comfortable 10-point margin of victory as Selimovic tallied six kills while Lindberg put up 13 assists. The Trojans hit .286 for the set compared to Incarnate Word's -.118.
 
In her first start as libero since her freshman season, senior Kelsey Leech scooped up a team-high 15 digs with an ace. Sydnee Martin tallied 12 digs in addition to three aces. Veronica Marin recorded 14 kills while Marina Avram earned 12 digs and six kills. Miona Milovanovic had the match's second-most blocks with four.
 
Little Rock once again won the block battle, this time 9-7. The Trojans have outblocked all 11 of their opponents this season.
 
The Trojans will return to action against North Texas tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.