Unforced errors cost Arkansas

Jump to South Carolinabox COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team battled unforced errors all match long in a three-set Southeastern Conference loss at Eastern Division rival South Carolina Sunday. Arkansas fell to 13-12 overall and 9-5 in the SEC while Carolina improved to 12-11 overall and 5-9 in the SEC with a 30-23, 30-27, 30-22 win. The South Carolina win was the first for the Gamecocks in three games and the first since 2002. “It was a very disappointing match,” said Arkansas head coach Chris Poole. “We were never in it. I thought we looked flat from the start and you have to credit Carolina, they came after us.” Arkansas hit just .025 with 31 kills in the match. Freshman Jessica Dorrell paced the offense with nine kills and a .412 hitting percentage. The Lady’Backs blocks started slowly but recovered with Arkansas finishing with nine in the match. South Carolina put together a dominating performance in the match coming back from an early-game deficit winning game one, 30-23. The momentum stayed on Carolina’s side of the net and Arkansas never recovered. Arkansas opened a five-point 21-16 lead in the first frame but Carolina went to Shonda Cole for a comeback and she provided all the offense they needed. Cole put the Gamecocks on her back with a match-leading 14 kills Sunday. Cole spurred a 6-1 South Carolina run late in the first frame and it turned the tide for the match. Arkansas stayed closer in the second and third games but never really controlled the tempo of the game. The Lady’Backs finished the match with 44 unforced errors including 28 hitting errors in the loss. “South Carolina played well but we didn’t challenge them,” said Poole. “We didn’t control our side of the net and that was the difference in the match.” The Lady’Backs return to SEC action hosting Louisiana State University for senior night Friday, Nov. 12, at 7:00 p.m. For more information please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to www.ladybacks.com.