Newcomers Propel Little Rock to 3-0 Win Over Mississippi Valley

JONESBORO, Ark. – Little Rock had nine different players record a kill, eight players combined for 10 service aces and the Trojans recorded the program's first-ever win as members of the Ohio Valley Conference in a 3-0 sweep of Mississippi Valley Friday afternoon.
 
Nedima Kamberovic led the way with a game-high 13 kills and a .409 hitting percentage as Little Rock (1-0) claimed its first win of the season and as of members of the Ohio Valley Conference, which it officially joined on July 1. Set scores were 25-11, 25-19 and 25-17.
 
Aside from the steady and predictable hand of Kamberovic, it was a crop of newcomers that led the Trojans to their first victory of the year. The final frame saw five newcomers join Kamberovic in the starting lineup, along with freshman Rylee McClintock in the libero role. That young squad hit .179, served up four aces and combined for 19 digs as they clinched the match.
 
The new-look lineup came after a lackluster second set where Little Rock was forced to win eight of the last 10 points to rally from behind for the set victory. The Trojans, having never lost a set to the Devilettes in program history, trailed 18-16 before head coach Van Compton called timeout.
 
Little Rock would rattle off five consecutive points following that break to help lead the team to the set win, including two Kamberovic kills, two Zanobia Willis kills and a Gabrielle Spankus ace.
 
In all, Jeila Fullerton registered seven kills, DaeDrianna Cail added six kills, hit .214 and served up a pair of aces while Makaila Harris had five kills and a .231 hitting percentage. McClintock tallied 11 digs, nine of which came in her libero-role in the third set while Spankus collected 18 assists.
 
Little Rock returns to action Saturday when the Trojans will face in-state rival and tournament host Arkansas State at 2 p.m. That match will be broadcasted live on ESPN+ with Cori Keller calling the action.
 
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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