Brewer and Koleva lead Arkansas to win

Jump to LSU box score GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomores Kele Brewer and Denitza Koleva paced the University of Arkansas to a thrilling five-game win over Louisiana State in first round action at the 2004 Southeastern Conference Volleyball Tournament in Gainesville, Fla., Friday. Brewer posted a Lady Razorback best 19 kills, hit .341 and had two block assists while Koleva added 17 kills, 11 digs and three block assists leading third seed Arkansas to a 30-22, 30-21, 27-30, 29-31, 15-12 win over sixth seed LSU. The 30-22, 30-21, 27-30, 29-31, 15-12 victory improves the Lady’Backs to 16-13 overall while the Tigers fell to 16-11 on the year. Arkansas stormed out of the gates winning the first two games quickly as the Tigers never hit better than 17 percent in either frame Brewer was unstoppable with 11 kills and no errors through the first two frames. “Kele and Denny both had great matches,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “They played like we know they can and it was great to see that today.” The Lady’Backs seemed to be cruising to an easy win in the third game as well up by as many as five for most of the frame but the Tigers came roaring back late in the contest. LSU closed within three, 22-19, as Poole burned his first timeout but it didn’t slow the Tigers as they tied the game on an ace from Jelena Mijatovic at 23-all. LSU then outscored Arkansas 7-4 thanks, in part, to several unforced Lady’Back errors as the momentum clearly shifted to the Tiger’s side of the net. “It’s like we thought we were going to get an easy win and they let up,” said Poole. “I’m really not sure what happened or why we shut down emotionally but we did. I really think that having our last two matches go five was a key in this win today. We didn’t panic and we never gave up. That was the difference.” Arkansas also lead in the four game but again allowed an unanswered Tiger run to dictate the pace of play and give LSU the win. But a different, more confident Lady’Back team broke the huddle to start the fifth frame and that emotion lead Arkansas to the win. The Lady’Backs spotted LSU a 4-1 lead but never looked rattled slowly chipping away at the score until tying things at four on a kill from Brewer. The teams exchanged points and Arkansas held a two-point, 8-6, lead when the teams switched benches at the half-way mark. Arkansas scored again up 9-6 when the Tiger skipper Fran Flory called her team’s first timeout but it did little to slow the Lady’Back attack. Flory burned her team’s final timeout trailing 11-6 and the Lady’Backs were able to hang on down the stretch for the win. Freshman Jessica Dorrell finished with a career-best 12 blocks as the Lady’Backs out-blocked LSU 17.5 to 6 for the match. Arkansas collected 76 team digs paced by 19 from freshman Ashley Miller. Both Miller and Dorrell were selected to the SEC’s all-freshman team Thursday. The win propels Arkansas into the second round where the Lady’Backs face No. 12 Tennessee at 1:00 p.m., Saturday. The match can be heard in the Fayetteville area on KXUA, 88.3 FM or on the internet at www.ladybacks.com.