Box Score
CONWAY, Ark.- For the second consecutive season, the University of Central Arkansas volleyball team registered a perfect home record. The Sugar Bears (24-7, 13-1 Southland) topped McNeese State (13-16, 7-7 Southland) 20-25, 25-16, 25-14, 20-25, 15-8 on Saturday to go 12-0 at the Prince Center this season. It was also the 30th consecutive win at home for UCA, the third longest streak in the country.
After dropping the first set 25-20, UCA adjusted to the Cowgirls' offense and ran away with the next two sets 25-16 and 25-14. MSU bounced back to take the fourth frame 25-20 to set up the deciding game.
In the fifth set, the Sugar Bears broke a 5-5 tie by going on a 10-3 run. UCA hit .818, connecting on nine kills and making no attack errors in the final game.
"We played well in spurts today," said Sugar Bear head coach Steven McRoberts. "Give McNeese a lot of credit. They played hard and gave us two great matches this year. It was good to see us play so well at the end. Hopefully, we will take that on the road with us next week.
"I'm proud that we went undefeated at home again."
The Sugar Bears' play at the net was outstanding, as UCA came up with 20 blocks, the eighth most in school history. Freshman middle blocker Jessica Nagy recorded 11 total blocks, which was tied for seventh most in the Sugar Bear record. Senior right side hitter Chloe Smith, playing in her last match at the Prince Center, added a career-high nine total blocks and sophomore Taylor Hammonds contributed six.
For the match, UCA outhit MSU .287 to .134 and had a 62-51 kills advantage.
Junior outside hitter Jessica Hays led UCA with 25 kills and hit .321 with two aces, 12 digs and four blocks. Smith hit .439 and blasted 20 kills. Junior libero Cristin Curl had 17 digs and UCA's other senior, defensive specialist Chloe Evans, added nine digs. Freshman setter Marissa Collins had 53 assists.
"Chloe Smith and Jessie (Hays) realllt carried us offensively and Cristin had some effort plays in the back row when we needed it," McRoberts said.
Priscilla Massengale led the Cowgirls with 13 kills and Katie Kennedy had 25 digs.
The Sugar Bears will wrap up the regular season with a match at Nicholls on Thursday and at Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
