Razorbacks Take Raleigh for ACC/SEC Challenge
Arkansas closes out a three-week streak of away volleyball this weekend with the ACC/SEC Challenge in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hogs will face off against No. 18 Georgia Tech on Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT and take on host NC State on Friday at 6 p.m. There will be live stats available for both matches and the NC State match will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra/ESPN+.
Last Time Out
The Razorbacks won their second tournament in as many weeks with a 3-0 record at the Tulsa Invitational Sept. 10-11. Arkansas opened the action with a sweep over Oral Roberts Friday, and defeated Tulsa 3-1 later that evening. The Hogs faced off against Stephen F. Austin in the tournament finale and won 3-1.
Senior middle blocker Ellease Crumpton was named MVP of the Tulsa Invitational and racked up 23 kills, 10 blocks and a .346 hitting percentage. Senior setter Gracie Ryan was named to the All-Tournament team after she posted double-doubles in each of Arkansas’ matches, matched her season high in digs with 58 against Stephen F. Austin and tallied 141 assists over the weekend. Freshman Courtney Jackson also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. She played in each of the Razorbacks’ 11 sets, and set a new career high in digs with 19 against Tulsa, which she matched again the following day. Both Ryan and Jackson earned SEC Setter of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors earlier this week for their efforts.
Scouting the Field
Arkansas is searching for its first-ever win against No. 18 Georgia Tech on Friday. The Yellow Jackets currently hold a 6-0 record in the all-time series between the two teams, which dates back to 1996. The last outing was a 3-0 victory in favor of Georgia Tech on Sept. 19, 2019. The Yellow Jackets return each of their top five killers from last season, along with setter Matti McKissock and libero Maddie Tippett. The Yellow Jackets finished the 2020-21 season 14-5 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They are currently 7-1 and Arkansas’ match against them is the first against a ranked opponent this season.
The all-time series with Arkansas and NC State is currently tied 2-2, and the Razorbacks took the last round 3-2 back in 2019. NC State is 5-4 on the fall 2021 season so far. Four of five of the Wolfpack’s top scorers from last season are back this year, as well as setter Kristen McDaniel, libero Kaylee Frazier and blockers Pam Chukwujekwu and Riley Shaak.
Up Next
Arkansas returns home with a bang as the Razorbacks open SEC play at Barnhill Arena against LSU on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The Hogs hit the road again that weekend and take on Tennessee in Knoxville on Sept. 25-26 at 5 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
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