Conway, Ark. - The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears are poised to take on the North Florida Ospreys in the ASUN Tournament Quarterfinals in Fort Myers, Florida, on Thursday. After an impressive regular season, the Sugar Bears (16-11 overall, 13-3 ASUN) enter the matchup riding a three-game winning streak and boasting the second-best conference record in the league.
Sugar Bears Snapshot
Central Arkansas has been dominant throughout conference play, showcasing a balanced attack and resilient defense.
Laci Bohannan leads the offense with 336 kills, while
Mackenzie Vernon (289 kills) and
Regan Harp (234 kills) add depth to the attack. Setter
Caylan Koons has been a critical piece of the Sugar Bears' success, tallying 1,044 assists on the season.
Defensively,
Alexis McDaniel anchors the back row with a team-high 445 digs, and
Allison Holloway leads the front line with 90 total blocks. The Sugar Bears have demonstrated their ability to win at home (8-1) and on the road (7-5), but a strong showing on neutral ground will be key to advancing further in the tournament.
Ospreys at a Glance
North Florida (13-18 overall, 9-7 ASUN) comes into the tournament with momentum, winning their final match of the regular season. The Ospreys rely on Amy Burkhardt's offensive prowess, as the senior has amassed 369 kills, leading the team. Setter Annie Antar has been instrumental with 1,087 assists, while Jacqueline Arrington dominates at the net with 85 total blocks.
The Ospreys' defense is highlighted by Maymie Guthrie's 359 digs, while Emma Pohlmann adds a spark from the service line with a team-leading 35 aces.
Key Matchup: Bohannan vs. Burkhardt
The clash between the Sugar Bears' Bohannan and the Ospreys' Burkhardt will be one to watch. Both outside hitters have been the go-to scorers for their respective teams. Bohannan's consistency and versatility will need to match Burkhardt's power and efficiency to give UCA the edge.
Game Time
The match is set to begin at 9 a.m. in Fort Myers, Florida. Stay tuned as the Sugar Bears aim to continue their stellar season and make a deep tournament run!
