CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team is finally about to host a match at the Prince Center for the first time in almost a month. After a road trip including stops in Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia, the Sugar Bears get to host Jacksonville and North Florida this weekend.
After falling to Queens and Kennesaw State, UCA's record fell to 6-14 and 0-8 in the conference. Despite the overall mark, a few Sugar Bears had some great performances. Caylan Koons put up 36 and 30 assists over the weekend. Koons still leads the ASUN with 731 assists and is averaging 9.88 assists per set. Laci Bohannan is bouncing back nicely after a season-ending injury last season, having the hot hand for the Sugar Bears at Queens with 23 kills, her season high.
The Jacksonville Dolphins mirror the Sugar Bears' record at 6-14, however the Dolphins have a 3-5 record in the ASUN. In conference, JU has taken down Queens, Kennesaw State, and Eastern Kentucky. The Dolphins are 0-4 on the road in ASUN play, which could bode well for the Sugar Bears, who desperately need a victory in conference play to turn things around. Graduate senior outside hitter Anna Erickson is tied for sixth in the conference with 220 kills, while Lyric Love and Jenna McNamara and second and third on Jacksonville with 152 and 150 kills respectively. Redshirt junior setter Rebecca Rocassin leads JU and is second in the ASUN behind Caylan Koons with 721 assists. UCA has won both all time matchups, winning in four sets both times.
On Sunday, UCA will host the North Florida Ospreys, who sit at an even 11-11 overall record, with a 4-4 ASUN record. In the non-conference schedule, the Ospreys beat Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, Charlotte, and Alabama A&M. UNF has won three of its last four matches in conference against Kennesaw State, Queens, and Eastern Kentucky. Junior outside hitter Kailey McKnight leads the Ospreys in kills and is third in the ASUN with 270 kills. McKnight put up 29 kills over her past two matches and is averaging 3.25 kills per set this season. She is also third in the ASUN in total points with 313.5. Redshirt sophomore setter Annie Antar leads North Florida in assists and is currently sixth in the ASUN with 590. UCA and UNF have split the only two meetings, and with the first matchup being at a neutral site, this will be the Ospreys' first time coming to Conway.
UCA will host Jacksonville on Friday, October 20th at 6:00 p.m. and then North Florida on Sunday, October 22nd at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can keep up with these matches on Twitter/X at @UCAVball.
