CONWAY, Ark. – For the first time in over two decades on Thursday evening, the University of Central Arkansas volleyball team will take the court at the Farris Center for a Southland Conference clash with the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders. The match will be played in the Farris Center to give Sugar Bear players the opportunity to be acclimated to the new scenery because they will be hosting the Southland Conference Tournament in the same facility in two weeks.
“Our players are really excited about playing in the Farris Center,” said head coach David McFatrich. “I don't think the venue itself will have an effect one way or the other on us or our opponents. Once the match begins, we will be focused on the task at hand which is beating a much improved Texas A & M Corpus Christi team.”
The Islanders will enter Thursday night’s match with a 4-6 conference record while sustaining a 12-15 overall mark. A&M Corpus Christi are winners of three of their last four conference matches with their last victory being a 3-2 triumph over McNeese State on Oct. 22.
The Islander attack is led by sophomore Brooke Alverson who will enter the match leading her team in hitting percentage at .233 while tallying 2.40 kills per set. Freshman outside hitter Brianna Brink leads the team with 2.58 kills per game while hitting just .125.
Defensively, A&M Corpus Christi has held its opponents to a .181 hitting percentage this season, which is fourth best in the league. Sophomore libero Micah Nolan leads the defensive charge as she ranks fourth in the Southland in digs per game, averaging 5.05.
UCA enters Thursday’s match after falling 3-1 at Texas State last Saturday. Prior to Saturday’s loss, the Sugar Bears had won their previous three conference matches and they currently hold a two game lead in the Southland’s eastern division.
The Sugar Bears lead the all-time series over the Islanders, 4-1. A&M Corpus Christi won the first ever meeting between the two schools in 2006, but UCA has reeled off four straight and hasn’t lost a set in the last three meetings. The last time the two schools met in Conway in 2008, UCA cruised to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-15) victory.
UCA has had some practices in the Farris Center to get used to the new surroundings this week. They’ll take the court for an actual match beginning Thursday at 7 p.m.
"We had our first practice in the Farris last night and it certainly has a different feel to it than the Prince Center,” said McFatrich. "We adjusted to the bigger space quickly as we are accustomed to playing in bigger arenas. I hope we have a good crowd!"
