Resident News Network

Corporals Lance and Porter Receive County Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

News

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12:48 am

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Corporals Lance and Porter Receive County Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

TWO ASP TROOPERS HONORED AS 2023 OFFICERS OF THE YEAR

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December 12, 2023

Two Arkansas State Troopers will share the 2023 State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, which is given annually to recognize police officers who go above and beyond the call of duty. This award and other statewide awards were presented by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin during ceremonies today at the Benton Events Center.

This year, Senior Corporal David Smothers and Special Agent Matt Foster were selected.

In July of 2023, Smothers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-40. While talking to the occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman, Smothers noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. After searching the vehicle, Smothers found a fully automatic pistol, more than 42 grams of marijuana, methamphetamine, and a fully automatic firearm. Additional items located during the search led Smothers to suspect the female was possibly being trafficked. Smothers contacted Special Agent Matt Foster who has extensive training in recognizing and identifying victims of human trafficking.

Foster conducted a lengthy interview with the woman, where she admitted to being trafficked across multiple states since February of 2023. Foster was able to get her admitted into a facility that specialized in recovery from human trafficking and drug use. When she was interviewed by Foster, she said that what she wanted most was to have a normal life, where she could do simple things like watch television with her child.

Smothers recognized the signs that she was being trafficked and took the care that was necessary for a positive outcome. In August, a federal agency notified ASP that the weapon Smothers seized was linked to two unsolved murders in Louisiana.

Smothers and Foster put the victim first in this investigation, which saved her life.

During the ceremony, both Smothers and Foster were also awarded Northwest Regional Officer of the Year, and Senior Special Agent Aundrae Mack was named Southeast Regional winner.

In all, Troopers from 31 of Arkansas’ 75 counties were recognized and awarded county-level Law Enforcement Officer of Year. These Troopers, along with officers from local and other state agencies, were recognized for dedication to their communities where they are assigned to serve.

Troopers who received County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year:

Benton County
Trooper Zenda Staab

Calhoun County
Trooper First Class Justin Starnes

Chicot County
Trooper Christian Morphis

Clay County
Trooper Richard Drum

Cleveland County
Trooper First Class TreVaughn Moore

Columbia County
Corporal Adam Pinner

Craighead County
Trooper First Class Tanner Middlecoff

Crawford County
Corporal Chris Short

Crittenden County
Trooper Garrett Byrd

Dallas County
Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler Jr.

Drew County
Trooper Tyler Grant

Faulkner County
Trooper Tyler Langley

Franklin County
Trooper First Class Mason Redding

Fulton County
Sergeant Justin Nowlin

Greene County
Special Agent Anthony Hill

Independence County
Special Agent Sean Riegle

Johnson County
Senior Corporal David Smothers (Northwest Regional Winner)

Lawrence County
Trooper Isaac Lawson

Lee County
Senior Special Agent Aundrae Mack (Southeast Regional Winner)

Lonoke County
Trooper Cody Martin

Miller County
Trooper Solomon Phifer

Monroe County
Special Agent Rodney Davenport

Phillips County
Special Agent Scott Troy

Poinsett County
Trooper First Class Tommy Fitzgerald

Pope County
Special Agent Matt Foster (Northwest Regional Winner)

Randolph County
Corporal Nicholas Poulsen

Scott County
Corporal Mike Lance

Sebastian County
Corporal Josh Porter

Sharp County
Corporal Moye E. Hawkins

Union County
Trooper Justin Harper

Woodruff County
Corporal Kurt Ziegenhorn

When It’s Time to Say Good-bye to the Family Pet…

Lifestyle

Jim Best

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2:30 am

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When It’s Time to Say Good-bye to the Family Pet…

PARIS- To some, it is no big deal. To others, it is intense grief.

Family pets provide years of love and enjoyment for everyone who crosses paths with them throughout their short life spans. Whether you are a dog lover, cat lover, or a lover of any other pet, you know that with the love and enjoyment of sharing your life with them comes the very painful time when you have to say good-bye.

For my wife and I, that time has come. Our beloved labrador, Sophie, passed away this week. Elaine brought her home as a puppy when she was eight weeks old, and I first met Sophie when she was about two years old. So, both of us feel like she has been part of our lives for her entire life, and it has been very hard for us to say good-bye to who we have always felt was the greatest dog a family could have. And anyone who knows Elaine and I knows that Sophie was dearly loved.

But in our grief, my intent for this story is to help others who may be facing this eventuality with a loved family pet.

Some people just don’t get it, and some are very empathetic. But whichever side you fall on, it is important to note that the grief you may feel is both very real and unexpectedly intense. And for me, the decision to end a dog’s life has been especially painful and emotional. Some who have experienced the pain of letting a beloved pet go refuse to have another pet and potentially go through this intense grief again. It is very painful and hard to cope with.

I found it to be a terrible dilemma of “am I doing the right thing, or am I rushing something that doesn’t need to be rushed?” But in Sophie’s case, I eventually realized that my desire to extend her life was a selfish act on my part. In her final days, Sophie was not experiencing any degree of a good quality of life. She was merely existing from day to day. She was experiencing severe immobility, loss of appetite, and her tail, that wagged all of the time, just didn’t wag anymore. She was refusing to eat, and acted as if she were in pain every day and had lost a significant amount of weight in a very short time. So, our desire to extend her life was purely selfish, and as hard as it was to let her go, we knew, it was the only fair thing for her. And it may be hard for others to understand, but we felt honored to be there to help her pass peacefully as was deserved by her for being such a loving and cherished member of our family.

So, in offering our story to our readers, we are not psychologists, veterinarians, or any other professional that is qualified to give advice. But as dog owners who loved our pet very much, we do think we are qualified to speak as owners who want to help others cope with what we have found to be one of the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make.

If you are a pet owner and you feel that this day is approaching for you and your pet, please know that your feelings are real and that they will be more intense than you fear. But the decision to let them go, along with the consultation of your veterinarian, is a final act of love for your pet. One in a series of loving acts you have extended to them for their entire lives. And it is the only fair thing to do in exchange for all of the love they have given us. As painful as that is, we have found that to be the only thought that consoles the two of us.

One final thought. It is so important to acknowledge the grief and the steps of coping with the emotional loss of a pet that provided so much love in your life. As a final tribute to your pet, and to help you move forward in life, help someone in your life. It may be their own struggle with the loss of a family member, or some other loss, but helping others is a positive way to help you move forward from your loss.

Elaine and I are certainly not at that point at this early stage, but we know that we will eventually move on and celebrate all the great things that made us love Sophie so much. In offering this story, we hope it helps anyone out there who is coping with a similar loss.

Grieving the loss of a beloved family pet is OK; it just means you love them and will miss them.

Timepiece: Hunting Season

Networks

Tammy Teague

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10:43 pm

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Finding an empty table was going to be a chore. The Dinner Bucket café was filled with noise and big burly guys wearing bright orange. The pick-ups outside contained enough weapons to start a small war. Getting breakfast in a small, rural town on the first day of deer season is not an easy task. Conversation ebbed and flowed as men gulped down pancakes, eggs, and bowls of biscuits and gravy. Many stories were exchanged back and forth, some probably true. Many of the men had success that morning; an astounding number reported that they had harvested two or more deer this season. This was not always the case.

When pioneer’s arrived in Arkansas wild game abounded. There was plenty turkey, duck, elk, and even some buffalo. An unknown number of panther, cougar, and wolves roamed the forest accompanied by an estimated 50,000 black bear. Bear were so plentiful that Arkansas was known as the bear state during the period of early statehood.

Frederick Gerstaecher, an early explorer and author, described Arkansas as a hunter’s paradise. He describes hunting deer in Pulaski county and being able to kill three or four a night using torchlight. Another explorer, George Featherstonhaugh, an 1834 visitor to the state, describes the wasteful slaughter of deer with people killing the deer, cutting of the haunches, and leaving the rest for the buzzards. As the state grew, more and more deer were killed. Professional hunters killed deer by the hundreds and sold the meat through local markets. The deer population plummeted. In 1916, realizing that deer were about to become extinct, the state created the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFS). At that time, it is estimated that there was perhaps as few as 2,000 deer in the entire state. A hunting season was established and a bucks-only law went into effect. Franklin County, a prime hunting area today, could not locate one deer in the county in 1926. Extensive flooding in 1927 resulted in deer being pushed into small areas of high ground where they were easily hunted, especially by professional using hounds. By 1930, less than 500 deer could be found in the state. Talking to people who survived the depression, they stated there were no large animals to hunt for food. Instead, they subsisted on squirrel, possum, and raccoon.

The federal government began to establish large refuges on public lands- areas where no deer could be hunted. The AGFC started a deer restocking program and the numbers began to increase. By 1946, there were 32,000 deer in the state. Established seasons and limited harvest continued to increase those numbers. Even in the 1970’s, deer harvest was scant and my dad was extremely pleased when he killed a small four-point.

In 1939, only 540 deer were harvested, in 1945 there was some 3,000 killed. It is estimated that the deer population in Arkansas today exceeds one-million animals. In recent years, over 200,000 deer a year are legally killed in Arkansas. Recently, I spotted 28 feeding in one large pasture, grazing like a herd of cattle.

AGFS has shown similar success with the black bear population. After reintroduction in the state, numbers have rebounded to a point we have annual limited hunts. Real enjoyment is to travel to Boxley valley and observe the huge elk as the travel along the Buffalo River uplands. It was reported that the last known buffalo in the state was killed in Saline County right after the Civil War and I am still waiting to see some of those majestic animals roaming the forests and highlands of the state. Their peaks surrounded by high cliffs and limited access to the top, Rich and Magazine mountain would serve as an ideal location for a small herd.

Breakfast and the company is enjoyable. I find the tall tales about hunting prowess and the ability to kill two deer in a season hilarious. Heck, my friend’s wife kills more that with her car each year.

Can you make charitable giving less ‘taxing’?

Business

Tammy Teague

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10:42 pm

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Can you make charitable giving less ‘taxing’?

Once again, it’s the season of generosity. In addition to considering gifts for your loved ones, you might want to think about charitable gifts as well. But what should you know before making gifts to charities? And what impact might these gifts have on your financial and tax situation?

First, you may want to create a gift budget by deciding just how much you will give to charitable organizations over the rest of the year.

Next, look closely at the groups to whom you wish to contribute. You can find many reputable charities, but some others may be less worthy of your support. One of the red flagsof a questionable organization is the amount of money it spendson administrative costs versus the amount that goes to itsstated purpose. You can check on the spending patterns ofcharitable groups, and find other valuable information about them, on the well-regarded Charity Navigator website(charitynavigator.org).

Once you’ve established a gift budget and are comfortable with the groups you choose to support, you might turn your thoughts to another key issue connected with charitable giving: tax benefits. A few years ago, changes in the tax laws resultedin a large increase in the standard deduction, which meant thatmany taxpayers found it more favorable not to itemize — and lost the ability to take charitable deductions. But if you still do itemize, your charitable gifts or contributions to tax-exempt groups — those that qualify as 501(c)(3) organizations — can generally be deducted, up to 60% of your adjusted gross income, although lower limits may apply, depending on the nature of your gift and the organization to which you’re contributing.

Other, more long-term avenues also exist that combine charitable giving with potential tax benefits. One such possibility is a donor-advised fund, which allows you to make an irrevocable charitable contribution and receive an immediate tax deduction. You can give cash, but if you donate appreciated assets, such as stocks, your tax deduction would be the fair market value of the assets, up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Plus, you would not incur the capital gains tax that would otherwise be due upon the sale of these assets. Onceyou establish a donor-advised fund, you have the flexibility to make charitable gifts over time, and you can contribute to the fund as often as you like.

Another possible tax benefit from making charitable contributions could arrive when you start taking required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from some of your retirement accounts, such as your traditional IRA and 401(k). These RMDs could be sizable — and distributions are counted as taxableincome. But by taking what’s called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), you can move money from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charitable organization, possibly satisfying your RMD, which then may be excluded from your taxable income. You must start taking RMDs at 73 but you canbegin making QCDs of up to $100,000 per year as early as age 70½. (This amount will be indexed for inflation after 2023.)

Establishing a donor-advised fund and making qualified charitable distributions are significant moves, so you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor first. But if they’re appropriate for your situation, they may help you expand your ability to support the charitable groups whose work you admire.

This article is provided by Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor

Edward Jones

20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855

479-963-1321

jeffrey.o’[email protected]

edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Featured

Tammy Teague

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10:41 pm

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Such beautiful weather we are having here in the River Valley. I want to say thank you to everyone that made the Mansfield Christmas parade a huge success. Everything went on without a hitch and it was a nice day. I love living in a small town. Big thanks to Mayor Buddy Black and the city employees. They really work hard getting everything ready. We could not have a parade without Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Traylor lining everyone up and all the floats and kiddos. I am very appreciative of everyone involved.

You know how we Wags are when we get together. We have no inside voices, and we yell and laugh and cut up. We had a get together at Pizza Parlour for my great niece, Leah’s, birthday. In Wagoner fashion, we were loud, and I had to tell a few stories on my niece, Kelly, from our Nashville trip. My brother even showed a video of her dancing that we have all laughed at. People are starting to leave, and my brother Larry and his wife Peggy leave before me. I go pay and I am walking out the door, and here they come back in the Pizza Parlour. I said, “what are y’all doing back? He replies, “I can’t find my phone!” Can y’all believe he lost his phone in the pizza place? He finally found it and he said, “the only phone I need is one with a chain attached to it.” I agree, just like those wallets that came out in the 1950’s with a chain to hook to your belt look. Someone is going to have to invent a chain for a cell phone so he can keep up with it. We all had a good laugh at his expense.

If I lose my phone, I will not tell a soul, except for the ATT&T guy that has to hook me up with a new one.

The Wag family has lost kids, dogs, phones, purses, driver’s license, inheritance checks, and debit cards, to name a few. Yes, my niece, Kelly, and her siblings got an inheritance check from her grandparents and lost it. She put it in her wallet and somehow that wallet ended up in a ditch in Muldrow, OK. Thank the Lord the person that found it was honest. She is the top contender for the most lost items.

This week’s recipe is for chicken pot pie soup. I love chicken pot pie. I have gone out to eat with my brother, Larry, and he would say order whatever you want, and I would order a chicken pot pie. He always makes fun of me for that. But I do love chicken pot pie. This is for chicken pot pie in the crock pot.

CROCK POT CHICKEN POT PIE
32 oz. of chicken broth
3 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cups of milk
2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped up (or shredded rotisserie chicken)
1 1/2 cups of frozen hash browns (southern style; you can add more if you would like)
12 oz. package of frozen mixed vegetables
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Mix all of this together really well and put in your crockpot. You can also add the spices you like- garlic and chopped celery and onion. I would cook the celery and onion in butter to add to this. Cook on high 3-3 1/2 hours or low for 6-7 hours. You can make some biscuits, rolls or garlic bread to eat with this. Enjoy! Have a blessed week!

Fort Smith’s Hannah Hogue and the Volleyball Razorbacks Take on Top-Seeded Nebraska Today in Elite Eight

Sports

Jim Best

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5:51 pm

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Fort Smith’s Hannah Hogue and the Volleyball Razorbacks Take on Top-Seeded Nebraska Today in Elite Eight

LINCOLN, NE – The Hogs will have their toughest test of the season so far as the third-seeded Hogs take on the first overall seed Nebraska in the final match of the NCAA Lincoln Regional on Saturday evening.

It’s the first time ever that Arkansas has advanced to a regional final, while Nebraska has appeared in nine of the last 10. The Huskers received the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and have been ranked the No. 1 team in the country since Oct. 23. Their only loss this season came at the hands of Big Ten opponent foe Wisconsin in a sweep. The Hogs played the Badgers twice in August and went 0-2, one loss in five sets and the other in a sweep.

The Razorbacks will look to continue a storybook season as the only 3-seed remaining in the tournament and the only SEC team left in the field. Prior to 2023, only one Arkansas team had ever advanced to the round of 16 and this group is the only one to be one of the last eight teams standing. The team has its most wins since 1999 at 28, which now includes the team’s first over Kentucky in 11 years, which came in the round of 16 in Lincoln.

While the Hogs have seen excellent fan support over the course of the season, Saturday’s match is sure to be the best yet as the Huskers average over 8,500 fans per match at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, and saw 8,580 in attendance for their midday regional semifinal match-up against Georgia Tech on Thursday, which went down as a sweep for Nebraska.

Something the Hogs and Huskers do have in common is their progression as the season wore on: Through the first 10 coaches polls, Arkansas and Nebraska were the only teams to never fall in the rankings, and the Huskers never did, rising from fifth to first over 15 weeks. While the Hogs did move three spots between weeks 10 and 12, they rose a total of 17 spots from No. 25 to their highest rank of the year, No. 8, which ties for the largest jump of any program this season.

Saturday’s regional final is slated for 5 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPNU. The winner will move on to the NCAA Volleyball Championship in Tampa, Fla., set for Dec. 14-17.

Scouting the Series: Nebraska

Arkansas’ match-up with Nebraska will mark the third time the team has played the No. 1 team in the country this year, as the Hogs played then-No. 1 Wisconsin twice in August
The two have only played each other three times ever, the last in 2016, and only once in the NCAA Tournament
The Huskers will be the fourth Big Ten opponent Arkansas has seen this season, the Hogs are 2-2 against B1G teams

Stat Leaders – Nebraska

Kills/set: Merritt Beason | 3.83 | 425
Assists/set: Bergen Reilly | 10.67 | 1184
Digs/set: Lexi Rodriguez | 3.57 | 396
Blocks/set: Bekka Allick | 1.39 | 89
Aces/set: Harper Murray | 0.31 | 34

Stat Leaders – Arkansas

Kills/set: Jill Gillen | 4.17 | 513
Assists/set: Hannah Hogue | 11.18 | 1375
Digs/set: Courtney Jackson | 4.03 | 496
Blocks /set: Zoi Evans | 1.08 | 129
Aces/set: Jill Gillen | 0.42 | 52

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Emily Polglaze.

Boyett becomes D2 era leading scorer in win at Angelo State

Sports

Tammy Teague

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7:09 pm

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Boyett becomes D2 era leading scorer in win at Angelo State

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Guard Hannah Boyett scored a game-high 24 points to become University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women’s Basketball’s leading scorer in the NCAA II era as the Lions defeated preseason favorite Angelo State, 75-64, to pick up its first Lone Star Conference win Thursday.

Boyett shot 6-of-13 from beyond the arc while also pulling down a team-high seven rebounds and collecting three steals. UAFS totaled 11 made threes in the win.

The Lions led 54-53 early in the fourth quarter before a 10-0 run by the Lions broke the game open. Boyett and guard Riley Hayes connected on back-to-back threes during the run to force an ASU timeout. Hayes converted three triples on the night for nine points.

Two more threes by Boyett gave the Lions their largest lead of the game at 75-60 with 1:53 left.

UAFS led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter before going into the break tied at 35. The Lions would fall behind at the start of the third but went on an 8-2 run to go up 43-40 and never relinquish the lead.

The Lions shot 41.2 percent for the game and held ASU to 34.9 percent. They won the rebounding battle, 51-37, including 17 offensive rebounds which led to a 17-8 advantage in second chance points. They had a 21-3 edge in bench points, as well.

Guard Baylee Fincher added 13 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Lions while guard Morgan Browning contributed nine points. Forwards Sinetra Jones and Kayla Brundidge each tallied seven rebounds, with Brundidge adding eight points, as well.

UAFS next visits UT Permian Basin Saturday at 1 p.m.

Amid Growing Public Outcry, State Rep. Duffield Calls for Special Session to Stop Proliferation of Crypto Mines

News

Tammy Teague

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6:58 pm

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Amid Growing Public Outcry, State Rep. Duffield Calls for Special Session to Stop Proliferation of Crypto Mines

(Little Rock, AR) – State Rep. Matt Duffield, District 53, has penned a letter to the governor’s office, urging Gov. Sanders to call a special session of the State legislature for the purpose of repealing the Arkansas Data Centers Act (ADCA) of 2023, as public concerns mount over the law’s aiding of Chinese communist-linked crypto mining facilities currently operating in Arkansas.

“I speak for my constituents in Pope County and many other legislators who face a growing revolt over the proliferation of crypto mines, the lack of local control and the way the Arkansas Data Centers Act allows these companies to override local concerns,” reads State Rep. Duffield’s letter, in part.

Signed into law by Gov. Sanders earlier this year, the ADCA massively eased restrictions on cryptocurrency mining in Arkansas and drastically weakened the power of local governments to restrict or refuse crypto mining facilities in their areas.

State Rep. Duffield’s letter raises numerous environmental issues related to the operation of crypto mining facilities including violations of local noise ordinances, massive local water resource requirements, and the enormous amount of electricity needed to operate. The letter also calls for meaningful State oversight over crypto mining companies.

Barring a special session, the issue of repealing the Arkansas Data Centers Act would not be taken up by the State legislature until the 2025 legislative session.

For more information on State Representative Matt Duffield, please visit:

www.mattduffield.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ibackmatt

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mattduffieldar

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattduffieldforstaterepres453

Hogs Defeat #2 Seed Kentucky for First-Ever Trip to NCAA Volleyball Regional Finals

Sports

Jim Best

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3:45 pm

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Hogs Defeat #2 Seed Kentucky for First-Ever Trip to NCAA Volleyball Regional Finals

LINCOLN, NE The third-seeded Razorbacks had their hands full in the round of 16 taking on the second-seeded Kentucky Wildcats after losing twice to them in the regular season, but the third time was the charm for Arkansas as the Hogs defeated the Cats 3-2 on Thursday to advance to their first-ever regional final appearance.

In addition to going a step further in the tournament, it was the first victory over Kentucky for the team since 2012, the first in head coach Jason Watson’s tenure and the first for the team’s prolific senior class.

Graduate outside hitter Jill Gillen had a stellar night for Arkansas with 20 kills on 46 swings with just two errors for a .391 hitting percentage, two aces, and 12 digs for a double-double.

Gillen was one of four Hogs on the night who had double-doubles, along with Taylor Head, Maggie Cartwright and Hannah Hogue. Cartwright also had a historic match with two aces, which solidified a spot in the program career top 10 for her.

Junior libero Courtney Jackson had a tremendous outing anchoring the Hog defense with a team-high 19 digs, while junior middle blocker Sania Petties put down five blocks – two solo and three block assists – to keep the Wildcats at bay.

The Hogs will face off against No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in Saturday’s regional final at 5 p.m. in Lincoln, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Set 1

The Wildcats maintained control through much of the first set to start, but the Hogs found their groove and used a four-point run to come within one at 12-11. It didn’t last long though as the Cats roared back with a 9-3 run that pushed it to 21-14 in their favor. Arkansas wouldn’t go quietly and rattled off eight of the next 11 points, and an ace by Gillen put the Hogs within striking distance down three. But time ran out for the Razorbacks as a Wildcat kill closed the set 25-22 for Kentucky and put them up 1-0 in the match.

Set 2

In the second set, Arkansas grabbed the lead first, but the Wildcats found a way to respond and stayed on the Hogs’ heels. There were three ties after the 10th point, but the cats got a narrow three-point lead at the media break, 15-12. The Hogs stayed calm and rattled off three straight points shortly after for a 22-20 advantage, which sent Kentucky to a timeout. The Cats tied it immediately after, but the final three points, capped with an ace from Jackson, made it 25-22 for the Razorbacks and knotted the match.

Set 3

The Hogs came out blazing in the third set and got a 5-8 lead early off an ace from Cartwright. Arkansas dominated the set from there and pushed their lead to 16-10 after a trio of kills and an ace from Hogue at 16-10. The Cats called time and tacked on two more, but Arkansas went on a five-point tear and made it 22-13 quickly. Back-to-back kills from Head pushed it to set point, which was spoiled by Kentucky, but a third from Taylor sealed the third 25-15 for the Razorbacks.

Set 4

The Hogs found themselves chasing early, but back-to-back solo blocks from Petties and Gillen gave Arkansas a 9-7 lead. Kentucky responded just as quickly and went up 15-12 at the media timeout, an advantage the Cats would continue to hold for the remainder of the set. Arkansas came within one twice off kills from Cartwright and Head, but Kentucky finished the set on a 4-2 run and forced a fifth.

Set 5

The Hogs were immediately in control in the deciding set as they saw kills from Head, Evans, and two from Gillen for an early 5-1 advantage. The Cats called time and trimmed the deficit to 6-4, but a kill and a solo block from Head doubled the lead at 8-4 as the teams switched sides. Kentucky stayed right in it and came within one at 8-7, but a timeout sparked Arkansas and the Hogs extended the lead to four. A Kentucky service error and an ace by Jada Lawson pushed it to match point for Arkansas, and while the Wildcats got one back, a final kill from Gillen shut the door on the set 15-10 and secured the match victory.

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Emily Polglaze.

Razorbacks Face SEC Rival Kentucky in NCAA Volleyball Tournament Sweet Sixteen

Sports

Jim Best

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3:08 am

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Razorbacks Face SEC Rival Kentucky in NCAA Volleyball Tournament Sweet Sixteen

LINCOLN, NE – While this week’s appearance in the Sweet 16 is just the second-ever for the Razorback volleyball program, the team’s opponent is a familiar one as the third-seeded Hogs will face off against the second-seeded Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday.

The regional semifinal match between the Razorbacks and Cats is the third between the two teams this season, in which Arkansas is 0-2. The first match went five sets, and the second was a sweep in favor of Kentucky.

Kentucky is no stranger to NCAA regional play and has reached the round of 16 five times since 2017, including during the Wildcats’ 2021 national championship run. Arkansas has only ever been in this position once before, in 1998, and were swept by Hawaii.

The match will be broadcast live on ESPNU on Thursday with Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Katie George on the call. First serve is set for 3:30 p.m. from the Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

Scouting the Series: Kentucky

The regional semifinal will be the third meeting of Cats and Hogs this season after two in conference play. The Hogs tied for second in the SEC and the Wildcats earned their seventh straight conference title
There have only been four neutral site meetings between Arkansas and Kentucky in series history, and the teams have never met in the NCAA Tournament
The Wildcats didn’t drop a set in their first and second round match-ups against Wofford and Baylor and haven’t lost a set since No. 19

Stat Leaders – Kentucky

Kills/set: Brooklyn DeLeye | 3.71 | 375
Assists/set: Emma Grome | 12.18 | 1255
Digs/set: Eleanor Beavin | 4.05 | 417
Blocks/set: Azhani Tealer | 0.93 | 89
Aces/set: Molly Tuozzoo | 0.31 | 32

Stat Leaders – Arkansas

Kills/set: Jill Gillen | 4.18 | 493
Assists/set: Hannah Hogue | 11.29 | 1332
Digs/set: Courtney Jackson | 4.04 | 477
Blocks/set: Zoi Evans | 1.11 | 127
Aces/set: Jill Gillen | 0.42 | 50

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Emily Polglaze.

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