Volleyball Spring Schedule Starts in Kansas City
FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas volleyball team is slated for four competition days this spring that include seven different opportunities for the Razorbacks to work on their game in preparation for this fall. Arkansas will kick off its spring schedule on the road at a tournament hosted by the University of Missouri – Kansas City on Saturday (April 6).
“To date, this has been a productive spring season,” said fourth-year head coach Jason Watson. “I like the work our athletes have put in. They have embraced the growth and learning needed to better our 2018 season. As the calendar turns to April, we have four competition dates to challenge our team. Each opportunity gives us a chance to test our team, see where we have grown and identify system upgrades.”
The Spring Slate
Saturday, April 6 at UMKC
- vs Kansas State at 9:30 am
- vs Bradley at 10:30 am
- vs South Dakota at 1:00 pm
Saturday, April 13 at Wichita State
- vs Kansas at noon
- vs Wichita State at 2:00 pm
Wednesday, April 17 in Fayetteville
- vs Missouri Southern at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, April 24 at Missouri State
- vs Missouri State at 7:00 pm
In the Rearview
The Hogs closed the season at 11-17 overall and 5-13 in SEC play, securing conference wins over Ole Miss, twice over Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Georgia. Three of those match wins were three-set sweeps. The Razorbacks will return a majority of the team, losing two in seniors Kelly O’Brien and Okiana Valle. Valle and sophomore Hailey Dirrigl earned all-region honors in 2018; Valle was named to the AVCA All-South Region Team, while Dirrigl earned an honorable mention nod.
Valle, Dirrigl Earn AVCA All-Region Honors
“There isn’t one particular athlete that has excelled above and beyond another,” said Watson. “The collective play of our team is getting better as we work to become better volleyball players.”
The Newcomers
Watson’s third recruiting class at Arkansas brought four incoming freshmen: Maggie Cartwright, Jillian Gillen, Abbigail McGee and Natalie Perdue. While Cartwright, Gillian and Perdue will add to the team’s existing group of outside hitters, McGee will join the Razorbacks as a defensive specialist. Watson said on national signing day that all four freshmen are “humble and hungry” and will join the Hogs and make an immediate impact on the court.
Watson Adds Four to the 2019 Signing Class
Joining the four freshmen will be junior transfer, Devyn Wheeler, who comes to Fayetteville after spending the first two seasons at North Florida. Wheeler recorded 119 total blocks, 17 of which were unassisted, and averaged 1.18 digs per set. Her 15 service aces this season ranked third on the team, as did her 2.20 kills per set. The sophomore played in every match this season, starting in all but two.
Razorbacks Add Transfer to Squad
“Over the next couple of weeks, each athlete has an opportunity to make a case for their position on our depth chart. It’s the increased competitiveness of our practices that is driving learning and growth. Yet, they all understand the importance of working as a collective, of being great team members and putting the team before ourselves. I’m greatly enjoying this evolution of our program.”
