Lady'Backs fall to Wichita State on the road

Jump to Wichita Statebox score|| Jump to Wichita State play by play WICHITA. Kan. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team dropped its fourth consecutive match with a 26-30, 23-30, 20-30 loss to Wichita State in the final match of the Green Mill Restaurant Classic Saturday. Senior Jennifer Haaser earned all-tournament team honors this weekend as the Lady’Backs (1-5) finished 0-3 in the tournament. Number 6 Washington won the event sweeping through tournament play with perfect 3-0 wins over the field. Michigan State finished second with a 2-1 record, Wichita State was third at 1-2 and Arkansas, 0-3, rounded out the field. “I’m disappointed but not totally surprised,” said Poole. “We knew our schedule was tough and that we had a young team. Any time you start losing games it weighs on you and I really think my biggest goal this year is to keep this young team focused and continue to move them forward.” Arkansas finished game one without a block and with two players hitting negative while the Shockers hit .405 in the frame. Arkansas found itself trailing 18-21 but the Lady’Backs managed a run to take a 22-21 lead behind Haaser’s serving. A pair of service aces along with a couple Shocker hitting errors helped Arkansas pull ahead but WSU reclaimed the lead for good just three possessions later for the win. Unforced errors were Arkansas’ downfall in the second game. The Lady’Backs held a lead early but nine hitting errors unraveled Arkansas’ offense as the Shockers pulled away at the half-way point. By the conclusion of the second frame, the Lady’Backs had committed 27 miscues. Freshman Jessica Dorrell had seven kills at that point but only two Lady’Backs were hitting better than .200 with the team at .155 in the match. Poole changed liberos and setters to start the third game but the outcome didn’t change for the Lady’Backs as their frustration mounted. “We’re trying to take things one day at a time,” said Poole. “We have a lot of teaching to do. At times this weekend we had four freshmen on the court and the team’s just not in sync yet. They need more time together but we’re in the middle of the season and that’s hard. One of the positives of this team is that they are hard-working and are always improving.” The Lady’Backs finished the match hitting .199 behind nine kills from Dorrell. Sophomore Amy Allison added eight kills with sophomore Denitza Koleva tallying seven for Arkansas. WSU hit .330 with 12 kills from Darci Vohs. The Lady Razorbacks return home hosting the C&C Services Invitational in Barnhill Arena Friday-Saturday, Sept. 17-18. Arkansas welcomes Ball State, Houston and No. 16 Illinois in a two-day round robin. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to www.ladybacks.com.