Razorbacks Tame Tide in Reverse Sweep
The Hogs had their backs against the wall quickly on Friday night as they fell behind two sets to none in Tuscaloosa, but they rallied back to take down the Crimson Tide in a reverse sweep (20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 8-15).
The match was Arkansas’ only reverse sweep of the season and the first five set victory for the Hogs since last September. The Razorbacks moved to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in SEC play with the victory.
There were plenty of big performances in Tuscaloosa on the night. Sophomore outside hitter Parker Duncan tallied a team-high 24 kills in the effort, also a new personal best. She also had 13 digs, a season high and good for her fifth double-double of the 2026 slate.
Freshman setter Maggie McCarroll paced the offense with 41 assists and 12 digs for her third career double-double. McCarroll had a team high five aces in the match, also the most for any Razorback this season.
Rookie libero Madi Benne posted 21 digs, a personal best. She was one of five Razorbacks to get 10+ digs on the night, including Duncan, McCarroll, Gaby Cornier and Lakin Laurendine.
The Razorbacks’ middles were impactful in all aspects, with senior Layla Smith tallying nine kills on a career high .474 hitting percentage and five total blocks. Aleki Alexander posted five kills, four blocks, and a career high three service aces.
Arkansas was fantastic at the service line with 11 total team aces, a season high and the most in a match for the Hogs since the 2024 slate.
Set 1
The opening set was back-and-forth consistently until Alabama broke through for a 10-7 lead. The Razorbacks responded with a 4-0 run of their own and then took the lead at 11-10. The Tide wasn’t far away and went ahead 15-14 at the technical break, and then they tacked on two more, which prompted an Arkansas huddle as the Hogs were down 17-14. Arkansas got three of the next four, including an ace from McCarroll, but Alabama responded well out of a timeout and pushed its lead back to four at 22-18. The Razorbacks only added two more points while the Tide took advantage and finished the set 25-20.
Set 2
There were four lead changes in the early goings of the second set, but a 4-0 run by the Tide was enough to put them up by three at 10-7. The Razorbacks kept chipping away after that but couldn’t string together more than a couple points at a time. Alabama hit 20 first and after a Razorback timeout, they went on a 4-1 spurt to come within two at 21-19. The Tide were right there to answer and did in a big way, quickly approaching set point with a kill. The Hogs spoiled it three times, but Alabama found a way through and came away with the 25-23 set two victory.
Set 3
Some early Alabama errors gave Arkansas just enough room to capitalize, and the Hogs used a 4-0 run highlighted by an ace from Laurendine to go up 10-6. After a Tide timeout, they eventually came within two, but the Razorbacks maintained their lead at 14-11 with a kill from Duncan. Alabama kept its foot on the gas, though, and went up 15-14 in no time. The Razorbacks kept chasing and a 5-1 run highlighted by two Duncan kills and am Alexander ace made it 22-19 in favor of the Razorbacks. Alabama threatened and was in striking distance, but another Duncan kill and a block from Thurman and Smith put the third away 25-22 for the Hogs.
Set 4
A 4-0 run started with a kill from Alexander and finished with an ace from Cornier gave Arkansas a comfortable 7-3 lead in the fourth set, at which point Alabama wanted time. The Tide got two points back, but the Razorbacks continued to roll and made it a 12-6 lead thanks to another kill and ace from Alexander. The Tide couldn’t do much to keep up, but they found their rhythm out of the technical break and took the lead at 15-14. After an Arkansas timeout, the Hogs quickly locked back in and rattled off six straight points soon after for a 23-16 advantage. Alabama wouldn’t go quietly and came within four, but another kill and ace combo from Alexander sealed the set 25-19 and forced a fifth.
Set 5
With their backs against the wall, the Hogs brought the energy in the start of the deciding set and immediately took a 3-0 lead thanks to two aces from McCarroll and another kill from Duncan. Alabama kept fighting, but Arkansas staved off any big chances for the Tide while the Hogs continued to build the lead. They hit double digits first, and the Tide called time to try and right the ship. Out of the break, the Hogs tacked on four straight with two kills and two blocks to reach match point. Alabama added two more, but one last kill from Duncan shut the door and secured the reverse sweep for the Razorbacks, 15-8.
Up Next
Arkansas now heads to Starkville, Miss. to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday, Oct. 25. First serve is set for 2 p.m. and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
More Information
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