Little Rock Drops Battle of Trojans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nejra Hanic posted a career-high 19 kills and Little Rock registered a season-high 17 total blocks but the team's home opener was spoiled by Troy in a 3-1 loss Friday night in front of 344 fan at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
Despite having three players in double figures, Little Rock (10-5, 1-2 Sun Belt) struggled with efficiency as the homestanding Trojans hit just .099 in the match. Troy (9-5, 2-1) withstood Little Rock's attack, registering 16 more digs and hitting .171 in the match. Set scores were 25-23, 26-28, 25-17 and 25-18.
 
Hanic, a sophomore, was credited with 19 kills and hit .289 in the match but she was the only Little Rock player to find efficiency in her attack. Nedima Kamberovic added 11 kills while Laura Jansen contributed 10. Jansen posted her 24^th career double-double by adding 14 digs to her effort.
 
The season-best blocking game was led by Zanobia Willis, who registered a career-high four solo blocks as part of a career-best 10-block effort. Hanic also posted a career-best at the net with four total blocks (0-4) while Nicole Medlin and Nedima Kamberovic both added four blocks as well. In all, seven different Little Rock players were credited with multiple blocks.
 
Troy was led by Julia Brooks' 126 kills while Lacey Jeffcoat posted a match-high 26 digs.
 
Little Rock returns to action Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center when the Trojans host South Alabama at 6 p.m.
 
Behind the Box Score

• Little Rock out-hit Troy in the first set, .132 to .057, but Troy led in service aces, 3-1.
• Nejra Hanic registered five kills in the opening frame, then seven kills to lead all players in the second set.
• Despite winning the second set, Little Rock was out-blocked, 6-4.
• Troy hit a match-best .452 in the third set while Little Rock hit .212.
• Little Rock hit -.048 in the fourth set while Troy hit .128.
• Little Rock led in blocks in the final set, 6-3.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 19, Nejra Hanic
Assists: 31, Alyssa Nayar
Service Aces: 2, Laura Jansen, Leigh Maher
Digs: 20, Leigh Maher
Blocks: 10, Zanobia Willis
 
Notables

• Little Rock still leads the series over Troy, 13-6. Troy has now won two straight, the first time Troy has won multiple contests in the series.
• Nejra Hanic recorded a career-high 19 kills and personal best four blocks in the match.
• Zanobia Willis recorded a career-high 10 total blocks including a career-best four block solos.
• The second set, a 28-26 decision in favor of Little Rock, marked the eighth time this season (out of 15 matches) that Little Rock has gone to extra points to decide a set.

 
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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