CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas Volleyball team returns to the Prince Center this weekend to host the Central Arkansas Invitational, featuring an energetic slate of three matches that promise in-state rivalry, conference familiarity, and a high-profile Power Five test.
Team Snapshot — 2025 Season to Date
The Sugar Bears opened their season with two tough losses at the Rice Invitational, including a close 3–2 match against then-No. 9 Texas A&M. In those opening matches, Laci Bohannan led the offense with 23 kills, Caylan Koons paced all players with 51 assists, McKinzee Haas led the team with 10 blocks, and Alexis McDaniel anchored the defense with 30 digs.
Looking at team-wide performance across eight sets played so far, the Sugar Bears have totaled 70 kills, 63 assists, 7 service aces, 98 digs, and 20 total blocks. On a per-set basis, that breaks down to approximately:
-
8.75 kills
-
7.88 assists
-
0.88 aces
-
12.25 digs
-
2.13 blocks
Weekend Matchups
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 6 p.m. vs. Little Rock (I-40 Showdown)
UCA opens the invitational with its annual in-state grudge match against rival Little Rock. UCA currently leads the series 9–6. Fans can expect another intense, emotionally charged showdown. The Sugar Bears will lean on offensive firepower from Bohannan and the distribution work of Koons, as well as Haas and Button's presence at the net and McDaniel's back-row leadership.
Friday, Sept. 6 – 12 p.m. vs. Southeastern Louisiana
The Sugar Bears face a familiar Southland foe. SLU comes in undefeated and bringing its own momentum, especially behind junior Kyra McKelvey, who recently earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after a standout performance. UCA will count on consistent setting from Koons and defensive stability from McDaniel to weather the midday challenge.
Saturday, Sept. 7 – 4 p.m. vs. Boston College (Purple Out)
Closing the weekend is a first-ever matchup against ACC opponent Boston College. The Eagles enter off a dominant Iona Invitational with a team hitting percentage of .310, paced offensively by Audrey Ross (25 kills), Lucy Mott (40 assists), and Brooklyn Yelland (30 digs). UCA's front-line defense—led by Haas, Bohannan, Tuiaana, and Button—will be critical, with hopes that the crowd's "Purple Out" energy can give the Sugar Bears a lift.
Why This Invitational Matters
-
Momentum Shift: UCA has already shown flashes—taking Texas A&M to five sets and competing hard against Rice. Strong performances this weekend could turbocharge their season.
-
Fan Engagement: The packed Prince Center, especially for the "Purple Out" finale, offers a prime opportunity for home-court advantage.
-
Benchmarking: Facing a Power Five team gives UCA a chance to measure early-season growth—and showcase the program on a bigger stage.
Summary Table: Key Leaders (2025 Stats)
Fans are encouraged to come out and pack the Prince Center this weekend!
LiveStats: https://tinyurl.com/ucavbstats
UCA vs. LR Stream: https://tinyurl.com/ucavslr
UCA vs. SLU Stream: https://tinyurl.com/VBSLU
UCA vs. BC: https://tinyurl.com/ucavsbc
