Late charge lifts Arkansas in five game win

Jump toSouth Carolina box score FAYETTEVILLE – Sparked by Kele Brewer, Denitza Koleva and Kristin Seaton, the University of Arkansas came from behind in a thrilling five-game Southeastern Conference win over South Carolina in Barnhill Arena Sunday. Arkansas (8-5, 1-1 SEC) notched a 25-30, 30-27, 22-30, 31-29, 20-18, nail-biting win over Carolina (7-5, 0-2 SEC) in the second SEC match of the weekend. The Lady Razorbacks were flat through the first three games and even to start the fourth but rallied and fought to the end in the unlikely win. “We pulled together as a team,” said Brewer. “It took everyone to win this match.” Trailing two games to one, Arkansas got down big in game four and the outcome seemed determined to go Carolina’s way. Head coach Chris Poole took a time out with the Lady’Backs down 14-8 but somehow his team found a way to make a run out of the break. Arkansas allowed Carolina a quick point on a Lady’Back hitting error but then went on a 5-1 run behind the solid serving of Koleva. The scoring bonanza closed the gap to three, 16-13, and forced Carolina into a timeout of their own. Although the break slowed Arkansas, it did not stop them as they eventually tied the contest at 20. A back-and-fourth battle followed and Carolina held the advantage most of the way until Arkansas again tied the game at 29 on a hitting error by a Gamecock hitter. A second hitting error and a booming, crowd-erupting kill from senior Karla Crose on a Carolina overpass ending the game with Arkansas winning 31-29. The momentum-shifting win carried over into the fifth frame as the Lady’Backs opened a quick, 6-2, lead and seemed to set the offense on cruise control. The Gamecocks battled back an forced an Arkansas timeout with the Lady’Back s up 13-11. Arkansas got a kill from Brewer to move to match point, 14-11, but Carolina score three in a row to tie the game at 14. A Brewer kill made it 15-14, and the sea-saw scoring battle began. The Lady’Backs had match point six times before putting the match away on a Gamecock hitting error. Koleva paced Arkansas with a near career night with 24 kills and a .304 hitting percentage. She added 15 digs in the win. Juniors Amy Allison and Brewer added 12 kills each while Allison recorded seven blocks. Crose also had seven blocks and sophomore libero Ashley Miller lead the made with 28 digs. The Lady’Backs return to action next weekend traveling to Auburn and Alabama as SEC play continues. Both matches will air live on KXUA, 88.3 FM in the Fayetteville area and on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM.