FAYETTEVILLE – No. 21 Arkansas made the most of a day of rest and came out rejuvenated on Sunday as the Razorbacks swept the Michigan Wolverines in the final match of the Wooo Pig Invitational.
Senior outside Taylor Head had a phenomenal day for Arkansas and posted 17 kills on 34 swings for a .471 hitting percentage. She also added 11 digs for a double-double and a service ace.
Junior libero Courtney Jackson had a season-high 16 digs and the Hog defense posted 7.5 blocks on the day, led by junior middle Sania Petties with four.
With 1,387 fans at Sunday’s contest, Arkansas saw 9,750 in attendance over the team’s four home matches during the week, bringing the season mark to 12,495 with nine home matches yet to play this season.
Set 1
The first set started out close, but Arkansas used a pair of three-point runs capped off by back-to-back kills from Jill Gillen and went up 11-6. A Michigan block shortly after brought the Wolverines within one, but the Hogs rattled off two kills and a block and pushed the advantage to 15-11 at the media timeout. Arkansas kept the pressure on and an ace from Jackson made it 19-12, the Razorbacks’ biggest lead of the set. It was a bit more even after that, but the Hogs extended their lead to nine with a kill from Gillen and an ace from junior setter Hannah Hogue that served as the 25-16 set point.
Set 2
Michigan shifted the momentum and grabbed an early lead in set two, but Arkansas settled in with a 5-1 run and brought the score to 9-6. The Wolverines got one back, but a Michigan attack error followed by two aces from Petties made it 13-7 in favor of Arkansas. Michigan refused to make it easy though, and scored six unanswered points which brought them within one at 15-14. The Hogs grabbed the lead right back and extended it to 21-16, highlighted by a pair of aces from graduate Maggie Cartwright. Michigan huddled and spoiled the Arkansas set point once, but a kill from Head put it away 25-17 for the Hogs and for the 2-0 match lead.
Set 3
The Hogs didn’t allow more than one Wolverine point at a time in set three to start, which led to a 10-5 lead. Michigan quickly turned on the jets though and strung together a 6-1 run, which tied it at 11-all. The Razorbacks kept battling and held a 15-14 edge at the media timeout, but the Wolverines kept on pushing. A four point streak made it 21-18 in favor of the visiting team, but the Hogs kept clawing and came within one. The Wolverines got one back after a huddle but served an error next. Head added a pair of kills for the narrow lead, and Michigan called time. The Wolverines tied it, but another Head kill took it to set and match point. Cartwright and Petties then blocked a Michigan swing and secured the set, 25-23, and the sweep.
Up Next
The Hogs have their first road tests this week as the team travels to Bowling Green, Ky. to play College of Charleston, No. 22 Western Kentucky and Troy for the University Plaza Invitational Sept. 8-9.
More Information
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Photos of this match may be found on Facebook at RNN Sports’ “Team Press Pass” page on Tuesday!
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Emily Polglaze.
