Trojans Sweep Through Statesboro

STATESBORO, Ga. – Laura Jansen led all players with 15 kills, recorded her 1,000^th career kills and Zanobia Willis recorded eight total blocks as Little Rock claimed a straight-set win over Georgia Southern, 3-0, at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro Friday night.
 
Laure Jansen (12 kills) and Nejra Hanic (10) also reached double figures. Set scores were 25-18, 25-19 and 25-21.
 
In a night full of highlights for Little Rock (12-10, 3-7 Sun Belt), Hanic's kill in the second at the 11-8 mark in the second set stood out as her initial attack was returned right back to her. She kicked her leg out in a last-ditch effort to save the ball from hitting the ground and it traveled over the night and landed on the other side for a kill. Hanic hit an impressive .500 on the match with just one error and posted a career-high five blocks.
 
Wild runs dominated the first set with Georgia Southern (12-7, 5-4) using a 7-0 run to take a 14-10 lead just for Little Rock to end the set on a 13-2 run. The Trojans also used a 5-0 run to clinch the second set, capping it off with a Laure Jansen ace. A back-and-forth third set, featuring seven ties and five lead changes, witnessed Little Rock use a 6-1 run to put the match away.
 
Laura Jansen's first kill – which marked her 1,000^th – didn't come until the 8-6 mark in the first set. Once she put one down, she was nearly unstoppable in the match, with a .424 hitting percentage and also just one error. She also added eight digs.
 
Willis's eight blocks were more than Georgia Southern's team total of six blocks on the night. The Eagles (12-7, 5-4) were handed their third straight loss and remain perplexed by the Trojans.
 
Little Rock returns to action in Atlanta Saturday evening with a 7 p.m. match at Georgia State.
 
Behind the Box Score

• Both teams had long runs in the opening set but Little Rock ended the frame on a 13-2 run.
• Laura Jansen led all players with 5 kills in the first set.
• Nejra Hanic posted four kills, a .571 hitting percentage and three blocks in the set, all of which occurred after the media timeout.
• Little Rock ended the second set with a Laure Jansen ace and a 5-0 run.
• The Trojans out-hit Georgia Southern in the second set, .302 to .211.
• Little Rock never trailed in the second set.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 15, Laura Jansen
Assists: 18, Sophia Reynolds
Service Aces: 2, Laure Jansen
Digs: 13, Leigh Maher
Blocks: 8, Zanobia Willis
 
Notables

• Laura Jansen recorded her 1,000^th career kill and made her 100^th career appearance in Friday's match.
• Little Rock is now 9-0 all-time against Georgia Southern. The Trojans are 5-0 in Statesboro.
• Sophia Reynolds recorded her first career service ace.
• With 15 kills, Laura Jansen moved into ninth all-time in Little Rock's history in career kills. She now has 1,014 career kills to her credit.
• Nejra Hanic recorded a career-high five 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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