The 13th-ranked Arkansas volleyball team continues to steamroll its way through the SEC, winning it’s fifth straight conference game, and it’s 13th consecutive victory overall.
The Razorbacks (15-2, 5-0 SEC) took out Missouri 3-1 on Sunday at Barnhill Arena, and now have their longest win streak in 20 years.
A familiar face led the Arkansas charge, once again, as graduate outside hitter Jill Gillen tallied 15 kills and 15 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. She needed just 12 kills on the day to reach the No. 2 spot on the program’s career kill list. Her 1,803 kills in tops in the current scoring era, dating back to 2008.
The Hogs used a balanced attack to knock off the Tigers (10-7, 2-4 SEC) 25-15, 19-25, 25-16, 25-22. In addition to Gillen, three other Razorbacks finished with double-doubles, as senior Taylor Head had 10 kills and 16 digs, graduate Maggie Cartwright finished with 14 kills and 15 digs, and junior Hannah Hogue had 47 assists and 10 digs. Junior Zoi Evan posted four of Arkansas’ seven blocks.
The Razorbacks got off to a hot start in Set 1, jumping to a 9-3 lead., then had a 7-1 run that put them up 17-7, before winning by 10 points. After Missouri rallied to take the second set, 25-19, Arkansas bounced right back with two straight.
The third set began neck-in-neck, before a 7-1 run put the Razorbacks in command. Two blocks, four kills and an ace by Cartwright gave Arkansas a 10-4 advantage. After the Tigers started to get some momentum, a 6-1 streak by the Hogs pushed the lead to 19-11. A Missouri attack error led to the set-point.
After jumping out to a 9-3 lead in the fourth set, Arkansas had to fight off a 6-1 Tigers run. Missouri kept in close throughout, cutting it to 18-16 late. But Gillen’s final call of the match put the icing on the cake,
Arkansas continues its three-match homestand with two this weekend. The Hogs will host Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m., then will take on Alabama on Sunday at 6 p.m. Friday’s match will be streamed on SEC Network+ and Sunday’s will air live on SEC Network.