Trojans Clinch Pool, Streak into Semifinals

FOLEY, Ala. – Three players reached double figures in kills, Laura Jansen recorded another double-double and a streaking Little Rock Volleyball team won its fifth straight match to advance to the Sun Belt Championship Semifinal round in a 3-0 win over Georgia State Thursday afternoon.
 
Janae Thurston led the Trojans with 12 kills while Laura Jansen's 11 kills and 15 digs netted her 11^th double-double of the season. Nedima Kamberovic put down 10 kills while Nicole Medlin hit .400 with eight kills for the freshman. Medlin also added two solo blocks.
 
Set scores were 26-24, 25-18 and 25-18.
 
Little Rock (6-13) never trailed by two the entire match and never trailed over the last two sets. Georgia State (9-11), which has now lost nine of its last 10 against the Trojans, was led by the 10 kills but only .103 hitting percentage of Erin Wyatt while Leah Wilcox put down nine kills. No other Panther recorded more than four.
 
The win marks the fifth straight for Little Rock, the program's longest winning streak since opening up the 2018 season with a 5-0 record. That year was also the last time Little Rock made an appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals. This year's trip will be the 15^th semifinal appearance in program history. Little Rock will face the Pool A winner on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. CT.
 
Behind the Box Score

• The opening set was the only set that featured a lead change.
• Leigh Maher's ace to clinch the opening set win marked the second consecutive set that Little Rock has used a Maher ace to win a set.
• Little Rock hit a match-high .381 in the second set (20-4-42).
• The Trojans went on a 9-1 run in the third set to lead 14-6, it's largest lead of the match.
• Georgia State was held to -.091 in the final set while Little Rock hit .206.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 12, Janae Thurston
Assists: 40, Alyssa Nayar
Service Aces: 1, Leigh Maher, Halee Pedro
Digs: 15, Laura Jansen, Leigh Maher
Blocks: 2, Nicole Medlin
 
Notables

• Little Rock advances to the Sun Belt Semifinals for the 15^th time in program history. The Trojans are 8-6 all-time in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament.
• The win marked the 31^st all-time Sun Belt Tournament win for the Trojans.
• Little Rock is now 9-2 all-time against Georgia State. This was the first time the two teams have met in Sun Belt Tournament play and just the second time on a neutral court.
• Laura Jansen recorded her 11^th double-double (11 kills, 15 digs) of the season and the 15^th of her career.
• The opening set, finishing at 26-24, marked the 14^th time this year Little Rock has played a set that required extra points. The Trojans are now 4-10 in those sets.
• The opening set also marked the 22^nd time this year a set involving the Trojans has been decided by two points. Little Rock is 7-15 in those sets.
• Little Rock won its fifth straight match, the program's longest winning streak since a 5-0 run to open the 2018 season.

 
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.
 
#LittleRocksTeam