Conway, Ark. –
The Central Arkansas volleyball team started their postseason in style, picking up a first round win over Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference Tournament Friday night.
The Sugar Bears (28-4) picked up a 3-1 win over the Lady Lions (11-19) taking the first set 25-15, the third set 25-22, and the fourth set 25-13. Southeastern Louisiana took the second set by a score of 25-22. Central Arkansas hit .309 on the night, led by Taylor Hammonds, who hit .615 on her way to 10 kills, three blocks, and three assists. Jessica Hays led the team with 24 kills and turned in nine digs and an ace. Jessica Nagy was the final Sugar Bear with double-digit kills, collecting 10 to go along with three digs, two aces, and a block. Marissa Collins dished out 56 assists and picked up seven digs and two aces. Southeastern Louisiana hit .186 for the match, led by setter Becky Bekelja who hit .500 with five kills. Bekelja also tallied a team-high 24 assists. Courtney Donald led the Lady Lions with 12 kills and six blocks.
Sugar Bear coach David McFatrich commented on the second and third sets, and how the Sugar Bears withstood a barrage from Southeastern Louisiana, saying, “We just stayed with what we normally do. This time of the year we aren’t going to change too much. We started trusting each other and avoiding over-extending on plays and it worked out. We got away from what we normally do during all of the second set and most of the third set.” Hays commented on the pressures of being the tournament’s number one seed: “We have to take it one team at a time and focus on doing what we know how to do, and not getting away from that.”
Following the match, Central Arkansas got to celebrate all that they have accomplished this season, as they were presented with the Southland Conference regular season championship trophy.
The Sugar Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon, facing off with fifth-seeded Stephen F. Austin, who Central Arkansas beat twice during the regular season. “I think they’re going to come out really fired up and with a lot of energy,” said McFatrich of the Ladyjacks, who overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat fourth-seeded Northwestern State earlier in the day. “We need to withstand that energy and bring some of our own.” The match kicks off at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon in the Farris Center.
