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University of Central Arkansas Athletics

University of Central Arkansas
April Conant
Jhude Dizon

Volleyball

Sugar Bears gear up for final homestand of the season

CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team is set to cap its final homestand with matches against Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine. The Sugar Bears fell to both programs on the road earlier this season, so the return trip provides a bid at revenge for UCA.

UCA got good news, as libero Alexis McDaniel won ASUN Defensive Player of the Week, her third such accolade of her career. Caylan Koons had herself a nice weekend as well, totaling 87 assists over the two matches as UCA won its first conference match this season against Stetson Sunday. Laci Bohannan continued to shine, putting up 16 kills last Friday, and then 22 kills on Sunday, one shy of her season high.

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels come into Friday's contest at 18-6 on the season and sport an 8-4 ASUN record. Aside from losses to Mississippi State and Louisiana in the first weekend of the season, the Colonels won out in non-conference, and in ASUN Play, EKU has won three of the last four matches and sit in at third in the conference. The Colonels are 1-3 on the road this season in conference play so far.

A player to watch for the Colonels is senior outside hitter Sarah Mitchell, who is seventh in the conference with 260 kills this season. AG Vandagriff isn't far behind with 249 kills on the season from the right side. Josie Schmitendorf, the libero for EKU, is second in the ASUN in digs with 411 on the season. Another player to watch out for is setter Chloe Mason, who is tenth in the ASUN in assists with 544 and third in the ASUN with 41 aces. The Sugar Bears are 1-3 all time against the Colonels, with EKU getting the best of UCA earlier this season.

The Bellarmine Knights sit at 9-15 overall but own a 7-5 record in conference so far. The Knights are 5-4 since playing the Sugar Bears the first time, including a three-match losing streak snapped by beating Austin Peay this past Saturday.

The leader in kills for BU is Bailey Venard, who has 235 on the season, with a season-high of 19 against Lipscomb last Friday against Lipscomb. Senior setter Macie Garrison leads the team in assists with 451 and hit her season high of 37 assists against Southern Illinois in September. The Knights' leader in blocks is freshman outside hitter Maddie Hagan, with 47 total blocks to go along with 130 kills this season. Earlier in the season, the Colonels handed the Sugar Bears the first of four straight three set defeats, but overall, UCA leads the all-time series at 3-1.

UCA faces EKU on Friday, November 3rd at 6:00 p.m., then UCA celebrates its seniors on Sunday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m. against Bellarmine. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can follow along on Twitter/X at @UCAVball.

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Players Mentioned

Laci Bohannan

#1 Laci Bohannan

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Caylan Koons

#6 Caylan Koons

S
5' 9"
Sophomore
Alexis McDaniel

#22 Alexis McDaniel

DS/L
5' 3"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Laci Bohannan

#1 Laci Bohannan

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH
Caylan Koons

#6 Caylan Koons

5' 9"
Sophomore
S
Alexis McDaniel

#22 Alexis McDaniel

5' 3"
Sophomore
DS/L

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