Trojan block party too much for Southern Indiana in 3-1 victory

LITTLE ROCK — Behind a season-high 15.5 blocks, the Little Rock Volleyball team earned a pivotal conference win Friday at the Jack Stephens Center, putting away Southern Indiana in four sets and setting up a chance for a series sweep when the teams meet again tomorrow for the afternoon session at 2 pm.
 
Little Rock (9-10 overall, 4-2 OVC) edged out the visiting Screaming Eagles (8-10, 3-3) in the first two sets (25-23, 25-21) then rebounded from a 25-16 loss in the third to close out USI in a dominant fourth set, 25-15. The Trojans never trailed in the final set and improved to 3-1 at home.
 
Jaycee Kennedy led the Trojans with a career-high seven blocks, A'lanae Margaritha had six blocks, Vivian Lucumi added five and both Bella Cherry and Kaila Harris had four. Little Rock totaled 27 block assists and two solos in the match, holding USI to just .089 attacking for the evening, the second time this season an opponent has been held below .100 percent.
 
Dariana Valencia notched her seventh double-double of the year with 16 assists and 15 digs to go with a pair of aces. Jeila Fullerton recorded her team-high ninth double-double, finishing with 18 digs, 13 kills, three aces and a pair of blocks. Kaila Harris finished just short of a double-double, adding 10 kills and nine digs. Lucumi hit .438 with no errors and chipped in seven kills and Andrea Roman had a team-high 25 digs.
 
Little Rock's win puts the Trojans in a third-place tie with Tennessee Tech, a half-game behind SEMO and 1.5 behind first-place Lindenwood. Saturday's match starts at 2 pm and can be streamed live on ESPN+.