Arkansas Volleyball Defeats #14 Texas A&M, Finishes Fall 6-2

FAYETTEVILLE – It was another exciting night in Barnhill Arena, as the University of Arkansas volleyball team defeated No.14 Texas A&M, 3-1 (29-31, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20) to stay undefeated at home (4-0) and finish its fall slate, 6-2.

Hog Highlights

• Jillian Gillen | 18 kills, 18 digs, four service aces
• Lauren Evans | 20 digs, five assists
• Devyn Wheeler | 11 kills, four digs, three blocks
• Gracie Ryan | 45 assists, 16 digs

How it Happened

The Razorbacks jumped out to a hefty 7-1 lead early in the first set, but an 8-2 scoring run by the Aggies gave Texas A&M a 19-15 lead. Arkansas didn’t back down and forced some extra volleyball in the first set, but would drop the set, 31-29.

Arkansas stayed true to its brand as the Razorbacks used the set-one loss as fuel, recording 20 kills behind a match-high .327 hitting percentage in the second set. Another big second-set turn around for redshirt-junior Hailey Dirrigl (5-1-10) helped the Hogs to a strong 25-20 win to tie the match at one set apiece.

Arkansas built a six-point lead late in the set (20-14) with a kill by freshman Taylor Head, but Hog fans got more extra volleyball as the Aggies stormed back to tie the set at 24-24 with a block on a Head attack. Senior Devyn Wheeler would give the lead back to the Hogs with a kill and only fittingly, Head then delivered the set-winning kill with the assist from Gillen.

The Hogs’ defense forced 14 Aggie attack errors in the fourth set and allowed only 12 kills by the Texas A&M offense to seal the victory with a 25-20 set win. Trailing early in the set, the Razorbacks looked to Gillen, Head and senior Liz Pamphile for points and the trio delivered with an 8-2 scoring rally to tie the set at 10-10. The Aggies and Hogs would go back-and-forth, trading leads until the Hogs took a 20-19 lead with a kill from Wheeler. Texas A&M made an effort to close the gap, but five-straight attack errors would give the Razorbacks the match win.

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