Arkansas Registers Third Straight Sweep on Saturday Night
The No. 21 Razorback volleyball team got its third sweep in as many matches on Saturday as they took down Louisiana Tech 25-9, 25-13 and 25-15.
The opener saw the Hogs’ largest margin of victory in a set this season and the largest since their 25-8 first set win over Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Arkansas only allowed 37 total points on the night, the lowest amount since the Hogs’ sweep of Auburn on Sept. 27, 2023.
Sophomore outside hitter Romani Thurman led the way on offense with 12 kills, a .455 hitting percentage and also added four blocks. Both Jada Lawson and Olivia Ruy also contributed eight kills apiece and combined for eight digs. Senior setter Hannah Hogue had another solid outing with 34 assists and four service aces, a season high.
Middle blockers Zoi Evans and Sania Petties tallied five kills each, and Evans had a team-high eight blocks, including two solo.
Set 1
Arkansas opened the match on an incredible 12-0 service run by Hannah Hogue that featured two aces, five kills and three blocks for the Hogs. Louisiana Tech’s first points of the night made it 12-3, but Arkansas just kept rolling and grew the lead to as many as 13 by the time the Razorbacks hit 20 points off a kill from Petties. The Bulldogs tacked on two more points, but a four-point run highlighted by two more aces from Hogue closed the set 25-9 in favor of Arkansas. The Hogs hit a combined .455 to Louisiana Tech’s -.167 in the set and had just one attack error on 22 attempts.
Set 2
The second set was a bit closer to start between the two teams with five tie scores, but the Razorbacks found a groove and strung together a 6-0 run that included two blocks and a kill from Evans that made it 12-7. Arkansas kept its foot on the gas and quickly doubled up the lead at 18-9 off a kill from Evans. Thurman then rattled off a pair to take it to 20 points for the Hogs. The Bulldogs make it 21-13 with a kill, but a 4-0 run with back-to-back aces from Ruy shut the door on the set 25-13 and put the match at 2-0 Arkansas.
Set 3
Arkansas opened the final set on a 6-2 point streak, but the Bulldogs played close and came within two at 8-6 with a block. The Hogs got back on track and got four of the next five for a 12-7 edge, which prompted a LA Tech timeout. The Bulldogs limited the Razorbacks to two points at a time but just couldn’t catch up, and a kill by Ruy made the lead five at 17-12. LA Tech called time again, but there was no stopping Arkansas and a trio of points put it at 21-13 for the home team. The Bulldogs added two more, but the Hogs closed it on a four-point run for the 25-15 set victory and match sweep.
Up Next
The Wooo Pig Invitational finale on Sunday features Arkansas and Little Rock at 2 p.m. It’s a Retro Match at Barnhill Arena, as the team celebrates the 30th anniversary of the program’s founding in 1994. The action will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.
More Information
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