Double-doubles can't lift Arkansas

Jump to Alabama box TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A pair of double-doubles couldn’t lift the University of Arkansas volleyball team to a much-needed Southeastern Conference win at Alabama Sunday. Arkansas got double-doubles from senior Jessica Dorrell and Heather Royal but suffered a three-game, 23-30, 25-30, 23-30 SEC loss falling to 6-8 overall and 0-4 in the league. The seven-match losing streak is the longest in school history. Dorrell paced Arkansas with 13 kills and added 11 digs while Royal tallied 12 kills and 10 digs in the loss. Alabama improved to 7-6 overall and 4-0 in the SEC. Junior Christina Lawrence added seven kills and hit a team-best .375 in a solid performance from the Sullivan, Mo., native. Sophomore Kristin Seaton added six kills and senior Ashley Miller had 22 digs in the loss. “We are playing hard,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole, “we’re just not playing smart. We can’t follow through the whole game with that elevated level of play. We have to find a way to win – even a single game. Our confidence is lacking a bit.” Arkansas led in the first game and battled even with the Crimson Tide until the mid-way point when Bama took the 15-14 lead. The Lady’Backs were out-scored 15-9 to end the game falling behind early. The second game saw the Lady’Backs get behind big early but battle back from a seven-point deficit to close the gap. Arkansas would come within four, training 20-16, but the early Alabama advantage was too much to overcome for the Lady’Backs. Bama again scored first in the final game running up the score, 6-2, before Arkansas seemed to get out of the gate. But the Lady’Backs still had some fight tying the game at seven. The score was tight for several points but Alabama took a 20-17 lead and cruised to the final set win. Arkansas hit just .190 for the match and was out-kills 50-43, and out-blocked 8.0-6.0. Arkansas’ SEC road stand continues next weekend when the Lady’Backs travel to Kentucky and Tennessee for a pair of matches. Both contests can be heard live on KXUA, 88.3 FM in the Northwest Arkansas area and on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM.