Arkansas Takes Wooo Pig Invite Opener Over Colorado State

After playing 13 sets in 72 hours, the No. 21 Razorbacks righted the ship on Friday night and defeated the Colorado State Rams in five sets.

It was Arkansas’ third match in three days and one of two five-setters. After both teams traded 25-21 victories in the first two sets, the Hogs went up 2-1 with a 25-18 third set win. Colorado State then took the fourth 25-20 to force the deciding set. Despite being out-blocked and out-hit in the match, the Razorbacks overcame eight Colorado State leads in the fifth and came away with the 15-12 victory for the match.

Senior Taylor Head led the way for the Hogs with 23 kills, which tied her career high. She also added 14 digs for a double-double, her fourth of the season. Graduate outside Jill Gillen also had a double-double with 19 kills and a team-high 15 digs.

Juniors Hannah Hogue and Courtney Jackson joined Head with 14 digs apiece on the night. Hogue contributed 50 assists and Jackson had a team-high four service aces. Arkansas saw five players contribute a total of 11 aces, the best mark for the team all season.

Set 1

The first set stayed close until a three-point run by the Hogs put the home team up 11-8. Arkansas held the lead from there and grew it to five points thanks to a pair of kills from Gillen, and while Colorado State started to threaten, the Razorbacks didn’t let them within more than two points. Gillen erased any doubt with her fifth and sixth kills of the set to shut the door the Hogs, 25-21.

Set 2

The momentum swung the Rams’ way early on as they opened the set with a 6-3 lead. Arkansas came within one a couple of times, but four straight by Colorado State pushed its edge to 12-7. The Rams mostly held off the Hogs after that, but when the Razorbacks started to roll, the visitors called time up 23-19. The Hogs were able to tack on two more to bring it within two, but a kill and an Arkansas error gave the second set to CSU and knotted the match 1-1.

Set 3

The Razorbacks didn’t allow more than two Rams points at a time in the early points of the third set, and Colorado State regrouped with a huddle down 11-7. It did something for them as the Rams scored five of the next seven and cut their deficit to 14-13. They tied it two points later, but Arkansas began to lock in. Kills from Head and Gillen and an ace from Hogue helped the Hogs get out in front 19-15, and Colorado State called time again. The Razorbacks stayed hot and led by seven off an ace from Jackson, which also pushed it to set point. The Rams added a kill, but Head cemented the third set win with one of her own and finished it 25-18.

Set 4

There were 10 ties between the two teams through the midway point of the set, but the Rams broke through with a 12-11 lead that they never looked back from. Colorado State then went on a 5-0 tear that widened the gap to 20-14. A service error and a Head kill shifted the rhythm and Arkansas got two of the next three and cut the deficit to 21-18. Colorado State took a timeout, which helped the Rams settle down and back-to-back kills put set point in their hands. Arkansas got one more to reach 20, but it wasn’t enough. Colorado State shut it down with a kill at 25-20, which forced the deciding set.

Set 5

The Hogs didn’t manage more than one point at a time in the fifth and found themselves playing catch-up. Colorado State led 8-7 as the team switched sides, and while Arkansas tied it out of the break, the Rams quickly went up 10-8. The Razorbacks found new energy after a timeout. A three-point run of a Hogue ace bookended by two Gillen kills gave the Hogs an 11-10 lead. Colorado State attempted to stifle the run and took a timeout of its own, but Arkansas eventually went up 13-11 off Gillen’s 19th kill. The Rams huddled again, but a Hog block pushed it to match point. Colorado State got one back, but a Cartwright kill polished off the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.

Up Next

The Razorbacks get a much-needed day of rest on Saturday before they finish off the Wooo Pig Invitational at Barnhill Arena with a match against Michigan on Sunday at 11 a.m. The match will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.

More Information

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