Volleyball Debuts at No. 22 in AVCA Coaches’ Poll

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Riding a five-match win streak and coming off a five-set win over then-No. 9 Florida, the University of Arkansas volleyball has earned its first AVCA national top-25 ranking since the 1999 season. The Razorbacks enter this week’s coaches’ poll as the No. 22 team in the country. Arkansas had been receiving votes in the national poll for the past two weeks.

With their 13-2 record at the halfway point of the year, the Razorbacks have tied the 1998 team for the best start in program history. The team is also off to its first 3-0 mark in SEC play since the 2003 season. Through the first 15 matches of its season, Arkansas is 6-2 against teams that played in last year’s NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks return to action with a road match Wednesday at No. 20 Kentucky which will be televised on the SEC Network.

Arkansas last appeared in the rankings as the 25th-ranked team in the final poll of the 1999 season. The Razorbacks are up four spots in this week’s AVCA poll. In additional ranking updates, the Razorbacks are also up five spots to No. 20 in the PrepVolleyball.com Top 50 poll.

Statistically, Arkansas maintains its position among the most efficient teams in the country with its .267 hitting percentage which is good for 22nd in the country. Behind the direction of junior setter Adrien Wohlschlaeger, the Razorbacks are 42nd in the NCAA with 12.98 assists per set as a team. Wohlschlaeger is second in the SEC and 26th among the nation’s setter at 11.15 assists per set.

The Razorbacks are also represented in the NCAA statistical rankings by senior middle blocker Chanell Clark-Bibbs and junior outside hitter Pilar Victoria. Clark-Bibbs, who is a top-six performer in three categories within the conference, is 38th nationally with her .396 hitting percentage. From the outside, Victoria remains 14th in the NCAA with 4.47 kills per set and 18th among the nation’s attackers with 5.01 points per set.

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