CONWAY, Ark. – Playing volleyball inside the Farris Center for the first time in two decades, the University of Central Arkansas volleyball team played arguably their most exciting match thus far in 2011, defeating Texas A&M Corpus Christi in a tightly contested 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 18-16) win Thursday night in front of 354 fans.
 
UCA (14-11, 8-3) was guilty of several mistakes on the evening and overcame lots of obstacles to get their fifth straight win over the Islanders.
 
“Overall, we didn’t do a whole lot right,” said head coach David McFatrich. “It wasn’t a great night of execution but we certainly weren’t out-hearted.”
 
Senior libero Cristin Curl was enormous on the defensive end for UCA, recording 32 digs and tallying three vital service aces on the evening.
 
“Curl’s serving was great. We’ll take her ace to error ratio any day of the week,” McFatrich said. “Big players come up big at crucial times and Cristin was able to do that tonight.”
 
Two freshmen in Alicia Dittrich and Scout Brooks were vital in the victory as well. Dittrich earned a career-high and match-best 17 kills to go along with six blocks. Brooks hit .243, added 13 kills, four digs, two blocks and a service ace.

“I’m very pleased with the way Scout Brooks played this evening,” said McFatrich. “We do not win this match without her.”

Two other Sugar Bear players earned double-digit kills on the evening as Jessica Nagy and Lindsey Barron added 11 and 10 kills respectively. Marrisa Collins continued her steady pace up the all-time career assists lists, adding 59 more to go along with three blocks and three digs. Defensively, Beth Rogers dug up 16 digs and Shelbee Berringer contributed a career-high 11 digs.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi (12-16, 4-7) was paced by 14 and 13 kill efforts from Shannon Hullum and Brooke Alverson. Logen Bourque posted a double-double with 41 assists and 13 digs. Three other Islanders finished with 10 or more digs in addition to Bourque. Micah Nolan led the way for her team with 21.

The Islanders actually had match point three different times in the fifth set. When the game was 14-13, an attack error by Jessica Corda gave the Sugar Bears new life. An attack error by Alverson tied the game back up at 15 apiece after Shannon Hullum had a chance to serve for the win. Once Brooks slammed a kill to tie the game at 16 all, UCA never looked back. An attack error by Brianna Brink gave UCA a 17-16 edge and Nagy brought home the victory with the final kill of the game.

Up next, UCA will try to capture their second straight win when they square off with the western division leaders, UTSA. It will take the best effort of the year for UCA as the Roadrunners will enter the match having not dropped a set this year in Southland conference action.

“We haven’t hit on all cylinders all season long,” said McFatrich. “When we hit on all cylinders we’re like a Farrari but when we play like we did tonight we’re more like a Volkswagen bug.”

The Sugar Bears get the chance to hit on all cylinders at 1 p.m. Saturday inside the Prince Center.