CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team picked up a massive win over Little Rock in the Governor's I-40 Challenge on Friday night at the Prince Center.
UCA was in control early in set one, using a 4-0 run to take a 7-2 lead out the gate. Little Rock hung in tight, keeping the set close at 14-10, but the Sugar Bears got kills from Allison Holloway and Charleston Tidwell, as well as an ace by Lilly Taylor to firmly take control of the set, 19-10. The Trojans got one more point off a service error, but that would be all, as UCA tore off six straight to pick up a dominant win in set one, 25-11.
The Trojans got off to a much better start in set two, but UCA was always quick to answer. With the game tied at 12, Little Rock made their move, taking a 16-12 advantage. Later, the Sugar Bears needed a 5-0 run that included two more aces from Taylor, to hop back in the game at 20-19. Another 4-0 run later gave UCA a 24-23 advantage. Unfortunately for UCA, the Trojans rattled off three straight to take the second set, 26-24.
A key stretch in the third set came with the Sugar Bears up 16-15, UCA would take four straight points, capped off by a kill by Laci Bohannan, who has been playing well coming back from injury. Shortly after, Holloway got a kill and then two aces to give the Sugar Bears a 23-16 lead, and UCA had its sights set on closing it out. Later, two more kills by Bohannan did just that, and the Sugar Bears took set three, 25-18.
Separation was hard to come by in the fourth set, with each run answered by the other team. A key stretch in the late stages of the set was a 5-1 run by UCA, which included two more kills from Bohannan and another kill by Gabby Tuiaana to make it 19-18 Sugar Bears. UCA would have its back against the wall twice in the final stretch, as Little Rock led 23-22 and 24-23 in the late stages. However, a 3-0 run capped with a kill from Bohannan and an ace by Holloway to take the set, 26-24 in front of another great home crowd.
UCA got 13 kills from both Taylor and Tuiaana to lead the squad, with Taylor pitching in four aces. For Tuiaana, it was a career high in kills for the freshman. Tidwell tallied nine kills, while Holloway had seven to go along with six aces. Bohannan had her best match of the season, finishing with seven kills, all seemingly in the clutch. Caylan Koons kept humming along with 43 assists while also adding a kill and an ace.
The Sugar Bears will suit back up tomorrow to take on the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions on Saturday, September 2nd at 1:00 p.m. Fans can watch on ESPN+ and you can keep up with the team on X all season long at @UCAVball.
