JONESBORO, Ark. _ The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears wrapped up A-State Invitational play Saturday morning with a commanding 3-1 win over the Southern Illinois Salukis.
Senior Kellen Dunn was dominant as she led both sides with 14 kills. Seniors Haley Tippett and Samantha Anderson also added 12 kills apiece, tying for second most kills on both sides. Junior Elizabeth Armstrong continued to add to her season assists total as she racked up a match-high 43.
The Salukis jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set after a couple Sugar Bear errors. The Sugar Bears gained an 11-10 lead after an Anderson kill and Saluki attack error. The rest of the set would be a game of runs as Southern Illinois responded with four straight points to regain the 14-11 lead. After a Saluki attack error to tie it back at 15-15, Southern Illinois finished the set on a 10-3 run to take it 25-18.
The second set went back and forth early as there were four lead changes and five ties in the first 12 points. After a Saluki kill to make it 6-6, the Sugar Bears went on a 5-0 run that was sparked by redshirt-freshman Ravin Rhodes two straight service aces. Central Arkansas would not look back as they held a comfortable lead the rest of the set.
The Salukis pulled within three to make it 13-10, but the Sugar Bears responded with another 5-0 run off two Bears kills and a service ace by sophomore Emily Doss. Southern Illinois would get close toward the end, but a ball handling error by Salukis' Maggie Nedoma gave Central Arkansas the 25-20 victory.
The third set started similar as the second as both teams fought early for an advantage. After three straight Southern Illinois points to make it 10-9, a 4-0 Central Arkansas run that consisted of two Dunn kills made it 13-10. Two straight Saluki errors made it 18-13 and allowed the Sugar Bears to pull away. Southern Illinois tried to hold off another Central Arkansas win as they cut their lead to 22-18, but a pair of kills from Dunn and Armstrong helped solidify the 25-20 third-set win.
Dunn continued to let her presence be felt as she opened up the fourth set with a kill. After a Salukis kill of their own, Dunn converted another to give her team the early 5-4 lead. The game shifted into the Sugar Bears favor when three straight Saluki attack errors pushed the score to 13-9. Southern Illinois would not get any closer as Central Arkansas closed the set on a 9-4 run to win the deciding set 25-14. Anderson played a crucial role toward the end as she had three straight kills to give her team a 23-13 lead.
The Sugar Bears will take an impressive 10-3 record into the start of conference play next Saturday with a matchup against 11-2 Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.
