Top 25 Match-Up on Deck for Hogs in Arkansas Challenge
Arkansas volleyball continues a five-match homestand this weekend and it all starts with a top 25 showdown.
Arkansas’ No. 24 ranking this week in the AVCA Coaches Poll marks the first time since 2015 and the first time in head coach Jason Watson’s tenure that the Hogs have cracked the top 25. With the home team and the Yellowjackets both on the list, Thursday’s match will mark the first time that a ranked Arkansas team will take on a ranked opponent at Barnhill Arena since 1998.
Georgia Tech and Arkansas last met in the 2021 season, and the Jackets swept the Razorbacks in Raleigh. The Hogs are looking for their first win in the all-time series also, as the Yellowjackets hold a 7-0 advantage.
The Razorbacks will also face off against the NC State Wolfpack on Friday night, as part of the Arkansas Challenge. Arkansas swept NC State in the last contest between the two teams in 2021, but it’s just the second meeting in Fayetteville in the five-match series so far. Last time out, the Wolfpack took the victory at Barnhill.
Arkansas also hosts a match between NC State and Georgia at 3 p.m. on Thursday as part of the Arkansas Challenge.
Both Thursday and Friday’s matches are set for 7 p.m. at Barnhill Arena, and both will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.. Adult tickets are $5 and kids 17 and under get in free. Tickets can be purchased online, through the Razorback Ticket Center at (479) 575-5151 or in-person.
Last Time Out
The Hogs had a successful weekend at home with sweeps over Little Rock, FIU and Colorado. Both the Razorbacks and CU Buffaloes were receiving votes last week, but Arkansas’ dominant victory was enough to push the Hogs into the rankings for the first time in seven years. Arkansas hasn’t lost a set dating back to Aug. 27, which was also the only match loss for the Hogs this season to then-No. 8 Washington, the evening after the Razorbacks defeated the Huskies 3-1 in the team’s highest-ranked win since 2007. Six straight match sweeps for Arkansas is also a mark last set in 2001.
Scouting the Series: Georgia Tech
- Yellowjackets are ranked No. 7 this week and have been ranked Top 10 all season so far
- First and only loss of the season came at the hands of No. 5 Ohio State
- Only one match of the seven-game series so far has been played in Fayetteville, last in 2007
- With Arkansas ranked No. 24 this week, it’s the first match-up with a ranked Arkansas and a ranked opponent at Barnhill Arena since 1998
- Record: 6-1
Stat Leaders
- Kills/set: Julia Bergmann, 5.54
- Assists/set: Isabella D’Amico, 7.75
- Digs/set, Bianca Bertolino, 3.38
- Blocks/set, Breland Morrissette, 1.08
NC State
- Hogs and Wolfpack last met in Raleigh in 2021, Arkansas came away with a sweep
- Second-ever contest in Fayetteville in the five-game series so far, and the Hogs were defeated in the first rendition
- Wins this season over Colgate, Elon and TCU
- Record: 6-3
Stat leaders
- Kills/set: Vanja Bukilic, 3.09
- Assists/set: Kristen McDaniel, 6.36
- Digs/set: Priscilla Hernandez, 4.10
- Blocks/set: Riley Shaak, .37
More Information
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