Bobcat Classic Up Next for Razorbacks
The Razorbacks hit the road for the first of three non-conference volleyball tournaments this weekend, and the first stop is in Montana.
Arkansas is set to compete in the Bobcat Classic on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with matches against host Montana State, Utah State and Portland, respectively.
Friday’s 8 p.m. match against the Bobcats will be streamed on ESPN+, while Friday’s action with the Aggies and Saturday’s against the Pilots will be streamed live via the Montana State website. There will be live stats available for all matches. Arkansas faces off with Utah State at 4 p.m. on Friday and with Portland on 11 a.m. Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Razorbacks opened the 2021 season last weekend with a home tournament, the Arkansas Classic. The team made quick work out of its first two matches and swept Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Louisiana Tech 3-0 but lost a heartbreaker in the Saturday finale for a 2-1 record. Arkansas rallied back from a 2-0 deficit and forced an extra set on in-state rival Little Rock but couldn’t come out on top in the end for a 3-2 loss.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Head and junior outside hitter Maggie Cartwright were named to the All-Tournament team for the Razorbacks. Head ended the weekend with 35 kills and posted a double-double against Little Rock with 19 kills and 14 digs. Cartwright had six service aces, four block assists and 23 digs over two matches.
Scouting the Field
It’s been two years since the Razorbacks and Montana State Bobcats last met, and the history between the two teams has been short. Each has a win in the 1-1 record, and Arkansas took the last contest with a 3-2. Montana State won against Dixie State and Boise State in its opening weekend but lost to Long Beach State for a 2-1 record. The Bobcats went 10-5 in the 2020-21 season and returned four of its top five scorers on a very young roster, which has 13 underclassmen.
Arkansas last saw Utah State in 2017 and came away with a 3-0 victory, and the Razorbacks lead the all-time series 3-1. Like the Razorbacks and Bobcats, the Aggies won twice and lost once in their opening matches. The team’s kill leader from 2020-21, Tatum Stall, is back for her sophomore year, as well as top defensive specialist Abby Peterson and setter Kalena Vaivai. Utah State finished the 2020-21 season with a 5-10 record.
The Razorbacks have never played the Portland Pilots before, and the teams come into the tournament with matching 2-1 records. Portland went 2-14 in the spring 2021 season. The team brings back key scorers Jayde Harris, Nevaeh Bray and Jiana Lawson and setter Noelani Helm.
Up Next
Arkansas continues its road non-conference schedule after the Bobcat Classic with a trip to Tulsa for the Tulsa Invitational Sept. 10-11 to face Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin. The team then travels to Raleigh, N.C. to take on Georgia Tech and NC State in the ACC-SEC Challenge Sept. 16-17.
Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).
