Arkansas Opens SEC Play with LSU
The Razorbacks return to Barnhill Arena after a long road stretch to kick off conference play with the LSU Tigers on Wednesday.
The midweek match is set for 7 p.m. and is one of four conference games on the day to get the SEC season started.
The Tigers come to Fayetteville with a 4-5 record, which includes a loss to No. 20 Penn State, and two against Michigan and Rice, who both received votes in this week’s AVCA Coaches Poll.
LSU brought back several key players this season including senior Taylor Bannister, who led the team with 385 kills last year. Setter Karli Rose returns for her junior season after posting 9.52 assists per set in 2020-21 and upperclassmen Anita Anwusi and Whitney Foreman lead the Tigers on the block. Graduate transfer from Missouri Kylie Kuyava-Deberg has made an immediate impact and currently leads LSU with 155 kills and 12 aces.
The Razorbacks and Tigers went 1-1 in the season series in Baton Rouge last year. Arkansas took the first match 3-1, while LSU took the second in the same amount of sets. The 9-2 Hogs lead the Tigers in each statistical category except for blocks, in which Arkansas has 88 on the year to LSU’s 93.
The match will be streaming live on SEC Network+ and live stats will be provided. Tickets are still available online or by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at (479) 575-5151. It’s also a Student Appreciation Beach Bash with free food and free Razorback beach towels to the first 200 students.
Last Time Out
In their last weekend of non-conference play, the Razorbacks traveled to Raleigh, N.C. for the ACC/SEC Challenge and went 1-1 against No. 18 Georgia Tech and NC State. The Hogs were swept for the first time on Thursday against the Yellow Jackets but came back to defeat the Wolfpack in straight sets on Friday. Senior setter Gracie Ryan passed the 2,000-assist mark for her career and added a new season high in kills with four against NC State. She also had 11 kills in addition to her 34 assists for her sixth double-double of the season. Junior Maggie Cartwright added four service aces in the match, which tied a career high.
Up Next
Arkansas hits the road again this weekend for two SEC matches against No. 21 Tennessee in Knoxville. Matches are set for Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. and Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. Live streaming will be available via SEC Network+ and Tennessee will provide live stats.
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