CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears will take the court for their final regular season home match of the 2011 season Saturday afternoon when they take on Southeastern Louisiana at the Farris Center. Two seniors in libero Cristin Curl and setter Lauren Dear will suit up for their final home regular season match.
"I will certainly have mixed feelings when we recognize our two seniors, CC (Cristin Curl) and LD (Lauren Dear), before our match with Southeastern on Saturday,” said head coach David McFatrich. “On one hand, I will be very excited, because I know the structure and discipline they have gone through as Sugar Bear athletes has prepared them to be very successful in life, and I'm anxious to see the impact they will have on others, Cristin as a volleyball coach and Lauren as a Dentist. On the other hand, I will be sad, as I've had the opportunity to coach two wonderful young ladies, both of whom have represented the great University of Central Arkansas very, very well."
Curl, a native of Brenham, Texas has appeared in 126 matches in her career and ranks fourth all-time in career digs with 1,739. This season she is digging up 4.59 attacks per game and has been named the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Week once. She has amassed 30 digs three different times this season with her season high of 33 coming in a 3-2 victory over No. 25 ranked Northwestern on Sep. 9.
"CC is, in my opinion, one of the best liberos in the country. She has been incredible for me to watch and coach over the past four years,” McFatrich said. “Sometimes I'm amazed by the plays she makes. One of the nicknames I've given her is ‘Rex’, which is short for ‘rally extender.’ Just when you think our opponents have terminated the play with a kill, "Rex" will make an unbelievable play to extend the rally. She has probably earned us over 200 points by her defense alone in her career. She may have an opportunity with the USA National Team or with a pro team overseas. She's that good."
Dear, a hometown product, has seen action in 12 matches in her career including seven this season. In 16 sets this year, she has assisted 168 kills giving her an impressive 10.5 assists per set average. In her four starts this season, the Sugar Bears hold a perfect 4-0 record. She recorded a career-high with 44 assists in a 3-0 victory over Nicholls earlier this season.
"I've coached LD longer than any other player, over six years including club ball so it's going to be difficult not having her around next year. I can assure everyone that she could start for most teams in the country,” McFatrich said. “I remember when I made her a setter in club ball, after only five weeks at her new position, both Mississippi State and Memphis wanted her. I said no, she's not only going to wear purple, she's going to play in the ‘House of Purple’, the Prince Center. She is probably one of the best teammates anyone could ever ask for. She is from right here in Conway, and this city can be very proud of her, as I am."
With a victory, the Sugar Bears can clinch the Southland Eastern Division for the fourth time in as many years. Thursday night, UCA knocked off Nicholls at the Prince Center, 3-0, to snap a three-game losing skid. The Lions enter Saturday’s match losers of their last four and with just one Southland victory this season which came on Oct. 27, a 3-1 home victory over Lamar.
The Sugar Bears will also be looking to maintain a perfect all-time record against the Lions. UCA has won all 12 dating back to the first ever meeting on Sep. 30, 2006 in Conway and has earned three straight sweeps over Southeastern La.
Courtney Donald, a junior middle blocker who leads her team with 2.18 kills per contest, will guide the Lions into the match. Two other middle hitters in Kinsey Williams and Paige Dollison also average just over two kills a game. Dollison also leads her team in blocks, recording 80 so far this season.
UCA, meanwhile, will try to build on the hot-hitting of junior middle blocker Taylor Hammonds and freshman middle blocker Alicia Dittrich. In Thursday’s 3-0 victory over Nicholls, Hammonds posted 17 kills and hit over .600 while Dittrich added 10 kills and five blocks while swinging over .500. Not to be outdone, sophomore Kyle Hartman got into the act with 11 kills and a pair of blocks while hitting a very respectable .391 of her own.
Match time at the Farris Center Saturday is set to begin a 1 p.m. with Senior Day festivities scheduled to take place prior to the start of the match.
