Lady'Back volleyball travels to Kansas

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team is in search of more wins this weekend when they travel to Lawrence, Kan., for the Kansas Invitational, Friday and Saturday. Arkansas is out to one of the best starts in school history with a perfect 6-0 record but the Lady’Backs face some of their stiffest competition in No. 16 Brigham Young and Kansas this week. "This tournament is a great opportunity to play a couple of top teams in the country," said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. "BYU just knocked off fourth-ranked Stanford and Kansas just has one lost and we’re playing them at home. Our team is jazzed about the weekend and playing these two teams. We know that these matches will get us looks nationally if we play well." The Lady’Backs quick start is obviously pleasing to Poole and his staff. Arkansas has battled several nagging early-season injuries that have forced the shuffling of the lineup on several occasions yet the Lady’Backs are finding ways to win with whomever is on the floor. "I couldn’t be more pleased to be 6-0 right now," said Poole. "We’ve had different players step up in different matches and everyone on the team has contributed. It’s truly a total team effort to be where we are right now." Senior Denitza Koleva is one of the players who has been a leader in every match. The Sofia, Bulgaria, native has posted a double-double for kills and digs in each of the six matches and tallied a career-best 20 digs in a win against Stephen F. Austin in Barnhill Arena last weekend and she has earned selection to the all-tournament team for back-to-back weekends. Junior Jessica Dorrell is also playing well early in the season. The Aledo, Texas, native has posted double-digit kills in the first six matches including a career-best 18 kills in a four-game win over Sacramento State. Dorrell was selected to the Arkansas Invitational all-tournament team last weekend. "Yes, our lineup has changed a bit but I feel like we’re pretty much where we want to be," said Poole. "We know what we want to do in terms of our lineup. We’re just not being able to practice with that lineup every day during the week while we try and rest or rehab some players so they are ready for the matches." Arkansas opens tournament play Friday with a 3:00 p.m. match against BYU followed by a 1:00 p.m. start with Kansas on Saturday. For more information about Arkansas volleyball please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.