NORMAN, Okla.- The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team will travel to Norman for a match with the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday night. The Sugar Bears (3-1) will look to avenge last year's four-set loss to OU (2-1). The Sooners received votes this week's AVCA Top 25 poll, and starts a run of tough opponents for UCA. Six of the Sugar Bears' next eight opponents finished last season ranked in the NCAA RPI top 75.
Senior Chloe Smith is on the verge of becoming the UCA's career leader in kills. The San Diego native has 1,298 career kills, and trail Roberta Bewen (1990-93) by six.
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• Central Arkansas starts the most difficult part of their schedule when they face Oklahoma University in Norman on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
• Six of the Sugar Bears’ next eight opponents finished last season ranked in the top 75 in RPI – OU (50), LSU (15), TCU (34), Virginia Tech (71), Missouri (64) and Western Kentucky (72)
• UCA opened the season with a 3-1 record at the UniWyo Wyoming Invite in Laramie. The Sugar Bears swept Northern Arizona and Murray State, beat Southern Utah in four sets and lost to the host Cowgirls in three.
• Junior outside hitter Jessica Hays was named the Southland Conference Offensive Week for averaging 4.62 kills per set at the Wyoming Invite. The Friendswood, Texas native connected on 60 kills in 13 sets to go with her 12 aces (0.92 per set) and 38 digs (2.92). Hays recorded two double-doubles and tied her career high with 22 kills against Southern Utah. She also set a career best with six aces against Wyoming.
• Hays, along with senior right side Chloe Smith, were named to the all-tournament team. Smith averaged 3.23 kills and 2.77 digs per set. Smith is the reigning two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year.
• Smith needs just seven kills to pass Roberta Bewen (1990-93) for the UCA career record. Smith has 1,298 kills, just behind Bewen’s 1,304.
• Freshman middle blocker Jessica Nagy led the Sugar Bears with a .349 hitting percentage over the weekend. Her pest performance was eight kills and a .583 attack rate against Wyoming.
• Oklahoma went 2-1 to start the year as they hosted the Nike Invitational. The Sooners lost their opener to Wichita State in three sets, but rebounded to sweep UT Arlington and defeat Miami (Fla.) in four sets.
• Junior right side/outside hitter Suzy Boulavsky and junior setter Brianne Barker were named to the all-tournament team. Boulavsky hit .360 and averaged 3.30 kills per set, while Barker averaged 8.70 assists and 2.10 digs.
• The Sooners were predicted to finish fourth in the Big 12 coaches’ preseason poll. They have also received votes in this weeks AVCA Top 25 poll.
• Oklahoma gave UCA one of their three losses last season. The Sooners won 25-22, 20-25, 25-8, 25-10 at the Rice Mizuno Invitational on Aug. 29. Boulavksy led OU with 15 kills and Bridget and Laplante had 14 kills and 14 digs. Maria Fernanda had 17 digs and Brianne Baker had 40 assists. Smith led the Sugar Bears with 16 kills and Hays recorded 11. Libero Cristin Curl led UCA with 13 digs.
• The Sugar Bears were picked to repeat as champions in the preseason Southland Conference sports information directors poll. The coaches picked UCA second, behind Texas State. UCA went 27-3 overall last season and 16-0 in Southland play.
• Senior right side Chloe Smith is the reigning two-time Southland Player of the Year, was named as one of 30 national candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. She ranked 15th in the nation with 4.46 kills per set last year.
• Central Arkansas have won 16 straight home matches, dating back to 2008 and went 13-0 last season. Since 2005, the Sugar Bears are 54-10 in the Prince Center for a .844 winning percentage.
• This is the first season UCA will be eligible for post season play after a four NCAA Division I transition period.
