Arkansas volleyball ranked Top 10 for first time in program history

The No. 10 Arkansas volleyball team is currently riding a 15-game win streak, including a 7-0 record in the SEC.

The Arkansas volleyball team has entered rare air this week, as the Razorbacks entered the Top 10 of the NCAA Top 25 rankings for the first time in the program’s 30-year history.

The No. 10 Hogs have compiled a 17-2 overall record, including 17-0 against teams not ranked No. 1. The only team to defeat Arkansas this season is top-ranked Wisconsin, who did it twice in late August. Of those 17 wins, 10 have been 3-0 sweeps.

The Hogs are on a current 15-game win streak, their longest in 20 years, and at 7-0 in the SEC, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the conference. They have only lost a total of three sets, of the 24 they have played, in conference matches.

Since Jason Watson took over as head coach in 2016, the upward climb has been steady. Prior to his arrival from Arizona State, the Razorbacks had not had a winning conference record since 2012, and hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2005. The team went 9-21 in Watson’s first season.

After making it into the Top 25 last season, for the first time in seven years, the Razorbacks advanced to their first NCAA postseason tournament in nine years. When they defeated Utah State in the first round, it was their first tournament win since beating St. Mary’s (Calif.) in 2005.

Arkansas entered this season ranked No. 25, its first preseason ranking since 1999. After opening the slate with wins over Michigan State and Tulsa, the Razorbacks lost a pair to the top-ranked Badgers. Since then, it’s been 15 straight victories.

The Razorbacks have also made it into the prestigious Michella Chester’s Power 10 rankings for the first time ever. They have done it will stellar play in all aspects of the game, from serves to net play. Arkansas ranks No. 5 in the nation in aces per set, averaging 2.24.

Junior setter Hannah Hogue and graduate Jill Gillen lead the team with 28 service aces each, while Hogue currently ranks No. 4, nationally, in assists per set, averaging 11.43. Gillen is the team leader in kills, with 240.

Junior Courtney Jackson leads the team with 233 digs, averaging 3.91 per set. Junior Zoi Evans leads the team with 56 blocks, averaging 1.04 per set.

The Razorbacks are getting ready to put their resiliency to the test, with five straight road matches, beginning Friday at No. 12 Tennessee, then Sunday at No. 20 Kentucky. The road trip will also include a visit to No. 17 Florida the following week.