Little Rock Defeats Razorbacks in Five-Set Thriller, Wins Arkansas Classic

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Little Rock had three players record double-doubles and outlasted Arkansas across 22 lead changes in a five-set thriller, upending the host Razorbacks, 3-2, at Barnhill Arena Saturday evening to claim the Arkansas Classic tournament title.
 
Set scores were 25-22, 29-27, 23-25, 22-25 and 15-13.
 
The Trojans (3-0) were led Laura Jansen's 22 kills and she added 13 digs to record her 15^th career double-double while Alyssa Nayar tallied a career-high 57 assists and 10 digs to notch her seventh career double-double. Laure Jansen recorded her first career double-double and 20-20 performance with 21 kills and 20 digs.
 
The win, Little Rock's first over a Southeastern Conference team since 2013, did not come easy despite a 2-0 lead but withstood everything that Arkansas (2-1) threw at them and more in a match that had 50 tie scores. The Razorbacks never led by more than two points in any set except for late in set four in a three-point advantage was the most they could muster.
 
Arkansas, which entered the weekend receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, trailed by as much as eight in the opening set at the 23-15 mark. They rallied to make the opening frame close but still fell, 25-22. Then Little Rock, who played in 14 sets that went to extra points last season, used that experience to grit out a 29-27 second set win. The Razorbacks would claim the next two sets to even the match.
 
In the pivotal fifth set, Little Rock was successful for the third time in the match in using a video challenge to overturn a Razorback point, swing a 10-9 deficit into a 10-9 Trojan advantage. That call overturn knocked the wind out of Arkansas' play and Little Rock used the momentum to rattle off two quick points for a 12-9 lead before the Hogs were forced to call timeout. Arkansas crept back in it but on the second match point, the Razorbacks committed an attack error to seal the Trojan win.
 
Little Rock will now head to Conway for the Central Arkansas Invitational next week with the Trojans opening up play on Thursday, Sept. 2 against the host Sugar Bears (0-0) in a Governor's I-40 Showdown presented by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield.
 
Behind the Box Score

• Little Rock out-hit Arkansas in the match, .343 to .328.
• The two teams were even with six service aces and 14 service errors each.
• Arkansas had one more dig (76-75) while Little Rock had one more assist (60-59).
• The Trojans put down 66 kills to just 61 for the Razorbacks.
• Little Rock out-blocked Arkansas, 12-11.

 
Leaders by the Numbers
Kills: 22, Laura Jansen
Assists: 57, Alyssa Nayar
Service Aces: 3, Leigh Maher
Digs: 20, Laure Jansen
Blocks: 7, Nicole Medlin
 
Notables

• Little Rock won its first-ever game over the Razorbacks in three overall meetings.
• This marked the first Trojan win over an SEC opponent since defeating Mississippi State, 3-1, on Aug. 31, 2013 in Starkville, Miss.
• This marks the ninth all-time win over an SEC opponent for Little Rock and the third different SEC team the Trojans have beaten.
• Little Rock has begun the season 3-0 for the first time since 2018.
• Alyssa Nayar recorded a career-high 57 assists and registered her seventh career double-double.
• Laura Jansen tallied her 15^th career double-double.
• Laure Jansen registered her first career double-double and first career 20-20 performance.
• Leigh Maher served up three aces against the Razorbacks, matching a career-high mark for the senior.
• Nicole Medlin recorded a career-high seven total blocks.
• Every single offensive player for Little Rock recorded at least five kills.
• Six different Trojans recorded a block and all six had multiple blocks.
• Four different Little Rock players reached double figures in digs.

 
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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