Trojans show off new firepower during exhibition sweep of Ouachita

LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Volleyball team put on a show Friday during an exhibition match against Ouachita Baptist at the Jack Stephens Center, sweeping all four sets played while showing off much improved overall play to win by scores of 25-17, 25-22, 25-15, and 25-18.
 
The Trojans will host their annual Alumni Match tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm before officially opening the 2024 season next weekend at the Lion Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
The Trojans finished the night hitting an impressive .250 for the match, finishing with 59 kills to just 19 errors. Jaycee Kennedy (.545), Kaila Harris (.300), Jeila Fullerton (.290) and Bella Cherry (.265) all finished with attacking percentages greater than .250 to lead the offensive onslaught.
 
Cherry (17 points) led the team with 15 kills to go with a pair of blocks, Fullerton (17 points) had a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs, Harris (team-high 18 points) finished with 13 kills and five service aces, while Kennedy (11 points) totaled seven kills and four blocks. The Trojans hit .273 in the opening set, .261 in the second, and .128 in the third before dominating the fourth and final set with a .355 attack percentage (13 kills / 2 errors).
 
Dariana Valencia had a team-high 31 assists to go with eight digs, Andrea Roman led on the defensive side with 24 digs plus four assists, and Kaylee Smith added 18 assists and six digs. Rylee McClintock finished with 10 digs and an ace while Sophia Garrido added a pair of kills.
 
Newcomers also made solid contributions Friday in their first appearance in Little Rock uniforms. Transfers A'lanae Margaritha (five digs, four kills, two blocks in four sets) and Polianna Hernandez (three kills in two sets) had solid outings and true freshman Lauren Foreman picked up an assist and a dig in one set.