Little Rock Falls in Five-Set Heartbreaker to UT Martin

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock had three players in double figures and hit a season-high .258 but UT Martin escaped a five-set thriller, 3-2, over the host Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center Saturday afternoon.
 
The Trojans (3-11, 0-2 Ohio Valley) and Skyhawks (9-7, 3-0) traded the first four sets with Little Rock pulling out a dramatic fourth set in extra points before UT Martin squeaked out the match win the decisive fifth frame. Set scores were 25-23, 18-25, 25-17, 26-28 and 15-12.
 
Laure Jansen recorded her second consecutive double-double as she led the team with 18 kills to go along with her 12 digs while Daria Burrows added 12 kills with a .409 hitting percentage. No Little Rock player hit in negative numbers as the Trojans registered their best offensive performance of the young season, out-hitting the OVC's best offense. Daedrianna Cail, who hit a team-best .429, also put down five total blocks including two solo stops.
 
The close opening set was just a preview of what was to come with the full drama hitting late in the fourth set. Little Rock looked ready to close it out at 24-22 but UTM responded with a Wallick kill then a Haeleigh Paulino ace – one of 11 aces in the match for the Skyhawks – to tie the set. After the two teams traded the next four points to bring about a 26-26 tie, a block by Burrows and Zanobia Willis gave the Trojans set point, which UT Martin promptly delivered with an attack error.
 
The back-and-forth swings continued into the fifth set with UTM winning the first five points, followed by Little Rock winning the next five to tie the set. This would continue throughout most of the frame until the 11-11 mark, when Wallick put down a kill that gave UT Martin a lead after which they would not relinquish.
 
UT Martin was led by Logan Wallic's game-high 21 kills while Kambree Lucas tallied 18 digs.
 
Little Rock returns to action Tuesday evening as the Trojans host Central Arkansas in the Governor's I-40 Showdown presented by Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and the first 100 fans to the Jack Stephens Center will receive a Beat UCA button.
 
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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