LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock recorded 18 total team blocks Tuesday – the most by a Trojan squad since 2018 – but was unable to upend Central Arkansas in a 3-1 decision at the Jack Stephens Center.
Led by a career-high 10 total blocks from
Zanobia Willis, the Trojans (3-12) posted the most blocks any Ohio Valley Conference program has recorded this season in a match of any length. The 18 team blocks ties for the eighth most in the country this year in a four-set match, even with Arizona's 18 blocks against UTEP on Sept. 16 and Sacramento State's 18 blocks against Nevada on Aug. 26.
By virtue of the play at the net, Central Arkansas (8-7) was held to a .160 hitting percentage despite having three players in double figures in kills. Alexis Stumbough led all players with 19 kills. Set scores were 25-20, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-23.
For Little Rock, it was the most blocks the Trojans have registered in a match since posting 19 against South Alabama on Sept. 21, 2018.
Willis' 10 blocks were more than the entire roster for the Sugar Bears would tally in the match, but the Trojans would commit 10 service errors and only put down 42 kills to UCA's 64. The 10 blocks from Willis were the most any Trojan player has recorded in a match since Veronica Marin tallied 12 at UT Arlington on Sept. 29, 2018.
Each of the four sets were competitive and neither team ever pulled far away from the other. The match featured 34 ties and 15 lead changes, including seven lead swaps in a second set the Trojans would win.
Seven different Trojans recorded a block with six of those being credited with multiple stops at the net. Daedrianna Cail tied her career-high with six blocks and hit a team-best .417 while
Jeila Fullerton posted a career-high four blocks.
Daria Burrows had five blocks to go along with her team-leading nine kills.
Little Rock almost forced a decisive fifth set for the second straight match, facing a 25-21 deficit in the fourth set to pull within one at 24-23 before UCA would clinch the match with a Stumbough kill.
The Trojans now hit the road in search of the program's first-ever Ohio Valley Conference win as league play resumes this weekend with a trip to Eastern Illinois.
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