LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Gabrielle Spankus served up a season-high three aces – and was one of five Trojans with an ace – but Little Rock's serving game wasn't enough in a 3-1 loss to UT Martin Friday evening at the Jack Stephens Center.
In all Little Rock (3-10, 0-1 Ohio Valley) registered nine service aces in the match, but the Trojans only hit .131 on the day. UT Martin (8-7, 1-1), a team that entered the day with a league-leading .198 hitting percentage, registered a .294 mark despite hitting into six Trojan blocks. Set scores were 22-25, 25-22, 25-15 and 25-18.
The Trojans used a raucous crowd to their advantage early, coming out of the gate with a .243 mark in the first that Little Rock won, 25-22. But the Skyhawks would clip the Trojans in the second set (25-22) and used that momentum to clinch the match over the next couple sets, holding Little Rock under a .100 hitting percentage over the final two frames.
Laure Jansen recorded her second double-double of the season and fifth of her career after tallying a team-leading 12 kills and 15 digs. The sophomore hitter also was credited with a solo block.
Daedrianna Cail hit a team-best .308 as she put down six kills and led the Trojans with three blocks. Spankus, who served up the trio of aces, also recorded 18 assists and six digs.
Little Rock held the Skyhawks to just four aces over four sets. That is nearly half the 1.96 service aces per set UT Martin was averaging entering the weekend, a mark that ranks 29
th nationally and leads the OVC.
UT Martin was led by the hot hand of Karen Scanlon, who put down 16 kills, tallied 12 digs and hit an impressive .467.
The two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock's PRIDE match.
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