The No. 16 Arkansas volleyball team continues to roll though it’s non-conference slate, making it seven straight match wins after opening the Red Storm Invitational in New York on Friday with wins over host St. John’s and Buffalo.
The Razorbacks swept the Bulls in the first match of the day, 25-14, 25-19, 25-15, and overcame a one-set deficit in the nightcap to outlast the Red Storm, 3-1.
In the opening match, graduate outside hitter Maggie Cartwright racked up 16 kills against against the Bulls. She surpassed 1,000 for her career, making her the 19th Razorback in program history to achieve the feat.
The Bulls kept things close to start, but the Hog offense quickly found their rhythm, as Cartwright strung together five straight kills early. Senior Taylor Head served back-to-back aces for a 14-7 lead. Cartwright slammed down another kill and the Hogs carried the momentum all the way through for a 25-14 set victory.
Buffalo actually led 15-14 in the second set, before the Hogs quickly responded to take a seven-point lead, en route to the 25-19 win. An early 7-1 run gave Arkansas momentum in the third set, as graduate Jillian Gillen slammed down a kill to end it 25-15, and secured the sweep.
After falling 25-19 to the Red Storm in the second match, the Razorbacks found a groove, getting on an 11-1 run that featured a pair of aces by Gillen. Cartwright finished with a kill to win it, 25-16, and tied the match at 1-1. An 8-1 run in the third set led to a 25-17 Arkansas win. The fourth set featured 14 ties, but a late St. John’s attack error, pushed the the Razorbacks to a 25-21 win to finish things off.
Arkansas put up 17 blocks total over the two matches, and had 16 service aces, to seven by Buffalo and St. John’s. Junior middle blocker Zoi Evans led the Arkansas defense with 11 blocks on the day, which included two solos in each match, and a career high eight in the St. John’s match. Gillen finished with seven of Arkansas’ 16 aces, and is now just 10 away from the program career record of 160.
Arkansas closes out non-conference play with the team’s final match of the Red Storm Invitational against Bryant at 1 p.m. CT in Queens. The Razorbacks will open SEC play at home next Friday night, hosting South Carolina in Barnhill Arena at 7 p.m.