Arkansas Takes Care of UAPB in Four Sets

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas volleyball team put itself back in the win column on Tuesday night after a four-set victory over in-state opponent Arkansas Pine-Bluff (25-13, 21-25, 25-13, 25-19). Three Razorbacks recorded double-doubles for the third time this season while five more Hogs achieved season or career bests.

The Razorbacks (4-3) got off to a dominating start, swinging .400 as a team and putting up 13 kills while holding UAPB (0-7) to only five kills in the first set. Freshman Jillian Gillen was leading all players with four kills after the first set and would go on to be one of the three Hogs with a double-double, recording 12 kills and 12 digs.

Joining Gillen among the elite were setters, senior Rachel Rippee and sophomore Gracie Ryan. Rippee finished with 22 assists and 11 digs while Ryan racked up 23 assists and 10 digs.

Four different Razorbacks have recorded double-doubles this season and Arkansas stands as the only SEC team with four players that have recorded multiple double-doubles so far this season, no other team has more than two.

Arkansas dropped the second set and came out firing in the third, jumping out to an early lead and closing out the set claiming ten of the final 11 points. After recording only one kill in the first and second set, redshirt sophomore Maia Stripp was the one that shined in the third set with five kills. Stripp recorded a total 11 kills in the contest, more than doubling her previous career high of five kills in a single match.

Helping guide the Razorbacks’ to their mid-week victory, sophomore Ellease Crumpton was lights out at the net against the Lions. Posting a career-high nine blocks (1-8), Crumpton took the top spot in the SEC for blocks in a single match with her defensive performance. With the help of Crumpton’s nine blocks, Arkansas recorded a season-best 13 team blocks against UAPB.

Junior transfer Devyn Wheeler and redshirt freshman Maylin Garrett did their part in taking down the Lions as well, as they contributed 11 and ten kills respectively, both season highs for Wheeler and Garrett.

Arkansas is back on the road this upcoming weekend. The Razorbacks will travel to College Park, Md. and Athens, Ga. for tournaments before the month is over and will return to Barnhill Arena on Oct. 4 when they host Texas A&M for the Hogs’ SEC home opener.