LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Multiple career highs were set, long rallies kept everyone on the edge of their seat but UT Arlington managed to slip through with a 3-2 victory Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
Little Rock (1-8, 1-7 Sun Belt) was led by career-highs in kills by Laura Jansen (25) and Janae Thurston (19) and in digs by Noelle Carey (22) while the team out-hit the Mavs, .261 to .246. But UTA (3-0, 3-0) served up six aces and never trailed in the final set to claim the victory.
 
FINAL | UTA 3, Little Rock 2 | 20-25, 25-21, 27-29, 25-23, 15-11 | Box Score | PDF | Photo Gallery
 
Jansen posted her sixth double-double of the season, adding 17 digs to her tally, led the way for the Trojans as she was one of four Little Rock players in double figures for kills and one of three for digs. Thurston (19), Nejra Hanic (11) and Nedima Kamberovic (11) all reached double figures offensively. Leigh Maher and Noelle Carey led the Trojan defense with 22 digs apiece.
 
The match marked the second five-setter for the Trojans this season and the third set, a 29-27 decision that went Little Rock's way, was the seventh time this year the Trojans have forced extra points.
 
UT Arlington was led by 26 kills of the hand of Briana Brown while Allie Wells led all players with 29 digs.
 
Behind the Box Score

• Little Rock out-hit UTA in the opening set, .342 to .182, on the way to a 25-20 set victory.
• Janae Thurston had five kills and hit .833 in the opening frame.
• Laura Jansen led all players with seven kills in the second set.
• Thurston and Nedima Kamberovic led all players, along with UTA's Briana Brown, with six kills in the third set.
• The middle frame featured 11 tie scores and five lead changes.
• Little Rock out-blocked UTA in the fourth set, 4-0.
• UTA never trailed in the final set.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 25, Laura Jansen
Assists: 38, Alyssa Nayar
Service Aces: 1, Leigh Maher, Nicole Medlin
Digs: 22, Noelle Carey, Leigh Maher
Blocks: 8, Zanobia Willis
 
Notables

• Alyssa Nayar recorded a career-high 38 assists.
• The 72 assists in the match by Little Rock marked a season-high.
• Laura Jansen posted a career-high 25 kills.
• Jansen also recorded her sixth double-double of the season (25 kills, 17 digs).
• Janae Thurston registered a career-high 19 kills and career-best .447 hitting percentage.
• Noelle Carey recorded a season- and career-high 22 digs.
• Zanobia Willis registered a season- and career-high three block solos and eight total blocks.
• The 29-27 final score in the third set marked the seventh time this season Little Rock has gone to extra points to determine a set.
• Zanobia Willis registered a career-high three block solos and eight total blocks.
• The 11 total blocks by the Trojans tied a season high and marked the third consecutive match Little Rock has reached double figures in team blocks.

 
For the latest information on Little Rock Volleyball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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