Allison paces balanaced Arkansas attack in three-game win

Jump to Mississippi box score FAYETTEVILLE – Junior Amy Allison paced a pair of players in double-digit kills as the University of Arkansas downed Mississippi in three games in Southeastern Conference action in Barnhill Arena Friday. Arkansas improved to 12-7 overall and 5-2 in the SEC with the 30, 21, 30-27, 30-18 win while the Rebels fell to 7-12 overall and 1-6 in the league. Arknasas hit .304 for the match with 11.0 blocks behind Allison who hit .412. The Jenks, Okla., native recorded nine kills and nine blocks for Arkansas. Redshirt freshman Christina Lawrence added 10 kills and hit .304 while junior Kele Brewer tallied 11 kills and hit .308 for Arkansas. The victory snaps a two-match losing streak and maintains Arkansas’ position in the SEC Western Division. The Lady’Backs were tied with Alabama at 4-2 heading into the weekend and the Crimson Tide was up two games on South Carolina at the time this story was written. Tennessee also appeared to be in control of their match at Auburn locking all three teams in a tie at 5-2 in the league – a mark that is good for second place behind a perfect 7-0 fifth-ranked Florida team who was idle. After losing two in a row, Lady’Back fans weren’t sure what to expect out of Arkansas in the first game. A bit tentative to start, Arkansas spotted Mississippi a lead but quickly settled down into the Western Division champion they are. The Lady’Backs tied game one at the 21-point mark after what had been a side-out battle. Once Arkansas tied the game they managed a nine-point run that, despite a pair of timeouts, the Rebels were unable to interrupt. Allison dominated the game with a game-best five kills and a .714 hitting percentage. She added four individual blocks in the frame guiding Arkansas to four team blocks (block solos plus half of the block assists). Arkansas bettered their .216 game-one hitting percentage with a .333 effort in the second stanza again paced by Allison with five kills, no hitting errors and a .556 hitting percentage. The Lady’Backs’ blocking continued to be strong as Arkansas picked up five in game two. Arkansas was a bit cautious out of the 10-minute break between the second and third games allowing the Rebels to take an early lead. Down by a pair, Arkansas used an Ole Miss service error and a block from Allison and Jessica Dorrell to tie the game at five and the Lady’Backs never looked back. The Lady’Backs reeled of f nine more points taking a 14-5 lead before Mississippi used a substitution and got a kill to stop the Arkansas run. The teams settled into a rhythm with the Lady’Backs hitting .361 in the final game holding Mississippi to a .114 mark in the game and a .096 hitting percentage for the match. Arkansas continues SEC action Sunday hosting Mississippi State in a 1:30 p.m. match in Barnhill. The Lady’Backs return to the road traveling to No. 5 Florida and Georgia next weekend. For more information about Arkansas volleyball log on to LADYBACKS.COM.