Razorbacks Recap Strong Fall Season
It’s been just over a week since the University of Arkansas volleyball team closed outs its shortened fall season in Barnhill Arena. The holiday season is upon us now, with most of our players and staff getting ready to depart for the break to spend time with family. So, from our Razorback family to yours, here is recap on what you may have missed this fall….
To begin, the Hogs showed their true love for the state of Arkansas this fall, a group of motivated Razorbacks with a dedication to growth, a love for the game of volleyball and a passion to play for the Natural State.
It was early September that the conference office announced a league-only schedule, four weekends, eight matches. The Hogs buckled up and prepared for the fall, anticipating weekends at Mississippi State and Missouri, while hosting Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Arkansas opened the season in thrilling fashion, taking the first match of the season in five sets in Starkville. Jill Gillen fired off 21 kills in her sophomore debut as the Hogs fended off the Bulldogs en route to the Razorbacks first win of the season.
Mississippi State took the early lead for the second day in-a-row on Sunday, but once again the Razorbacks showed their grit, securing the series sweep in five sets. Trailing 2-0, the Hogs fended of five match points in the third set to stay in the game. Senior Liz Pamphile recorded a career-high 17 kills with a .452 hitting percentage in the victory, as Arkansas left Starkville with two wins in tow.
Freshman Taylor Head was an immediate impact for the Hogs, with back-to-back double-doubles in her first weekend as a Razorback. Junior setter, Gracie Ryan began what would be an exciting season 49 and 59 assists in the wins respectively, setting a new career high.
Ryan is currently second in the SEC in assists per set (10.58) and top 15 in division I, putting up a league-best 349 assists for her Hogs this fall.
The Razorbacks would go on to sweep Ole Miss as home, remaining undefeated at 4-0, midway through the season. More impressive performances by Head would earn her SEC Freshman of the Week, her first of most certainly many recognitions. She averaged 4.21 points, 3.71 kills and 3.14 digs per set and owned a .397 hitting percentage in the two victories over Ole Miss.
A competitive mid-week series at Mizzou would put the Hogs at 4-2 headed into the fall finale at home against a ranked Texas A&M team.
The energy in Barnhill Arena was impeccable for the final weekend of the season, as fans socially distanced in their seats, callings the hogs and cheering for the Razorbacks. “It was a really tough series, both teams are so similar,” said fifth-year head coach Jason Watson. “We managed to feed off of the energy from our fans in our home arena and playing clean late in sets, that was probably the difference.”
Arkansas had one of its best weekends of the season against the Aggies, sweeping the series in back-to-back four set victories. Friday’s win was momentous for the Razorbacks as the Hogs first win over the Aggies since 2017 and the Razorbacks’ first win over a ranked opponent since 2015.
Senior middle-blocker Devyn Wheeler helped lead Arkansas with 15 kills and a .480 hitting percentage in Friday’s win only to turn around and record 11 kills, four digs and three blocks in Saturday’s victory. Her efficiency at the net was crucial to the Razorbacks’ success this fall and she finishes the season third in the SEC for hitting percentage (.430).
Ryan and Gillen were praised for their successes against No.14 Texas A&M during weekly awards, Ryan was named Setter of the Week and Gillen earned Offensive Player of the Week honors and was selected among the weekly honorees as the Player of the Week as well. The two Hogs were a key part of a Razorback squad that recorded season-high numbers in kills, attempts, digs and assists in a four-set match in the final match of the fall (Nov. 14), en route to finishing the season with six SEC wins, the best start for Arkansas since 2017.
The Razorbacks finished ranked first in the SEC and sixth in division I in service aces per set, led by Gillen who raked in 17 aces and averaged 0.52 aces per set. Arkansas also finished among the top four teams in the league in assists per set, digs per set, kills per set and hitting percentage.
Arkansas finished the fall at 6-2, with the most SEC wins since 2017 and the best SEC record through eight matches since 2003, its undeniable, the Razorbacks are on the rise.
“Happy for our athletes and staff that we end the fall season at 6-2,” said Watson. “So very thankful for so many who have worked hard to enable us to play the sport we love…spring volleyball, here we come.”
SEC volleyball teams will participate in spring competition as well, with details of formats contingent on final decisions by the NCAA to conduct spring championships in those sports.
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