Rippee Sets All-Time Assist Record in Razorback Victory

FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Rachel Rippee recorded a season-high 39 assists in the Arkansas volleyball team’s five-set victory over Ole Miss on Friday night in Barnhill Arena. The performance crowned Rippee as the all-time assists leader during the rally era at Arkansas with 3,679 total assists.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rachel Rippee | 39 assists | 8 digs
  • Jillian Gillen | 31 kills | 9 digs
  • Maggie Cartwright | 19 kills | 11 digs | .333 clip | 2 block solos
  • Gracie Ryan | 18 assists | 11 digs

THE TURNING POINT

Ole Miss took the first two points of the first set but a kill by Gillen sparked 6-0 run that gave Arkansas a four-point advantage and they never relinquished the lead to claim the first set, 25-17.

The Razorbacks trailed by as many as 10 points in the second set and rallied back to tie the match at 23 points apiece. Arkansas and Ole Miss went back and forth but three-straight by the Rebels gave them the 35-33 set win.

The two teams split the third and fourth set in a lopsided manner as the Hogs claimed the third set 25-18 but dropped the fourth, 25-14.

Down 7-1 early in the final set, Arkansas sparked another rally and recorded a match-best .364 clip in the fifth set with nine kills and just one attack error to secure the thrilling five-set victory.

FROM COACH WATSON

“A remarkable effort.  Just a battle. Both teams battled for every point. Pleased with the way we continue to find ways to end better than we start.”

“I’m extremely happy for Rachel, I think it’s a remarkable accomplishment.  Arkansas has had a history of outstanding setters. For Rachel to be the all-time assist leader during the rally scoring era says a lot about her commitment to growth.”

FROM JILLIAN GILLEN

“The intensity on the court tonight was amazing. We’ve been playing a lot of five-set matches recently and I knew we could pull ahead and pull it off tonight. We started out really strong and I’m really proud of how we started, even when we were down… we played an amazing second set and its unfortunate we dropped that set but I knew we could come back to win it and we did. It feels amazing to win these back-to-back matches, I am so pumped at how we competed and played tonight.”

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