CONWAY, Ark. — The Central Arkansas volleyball team (9-14, 9-4 UAC) defeated UT Arlington (11-14, 5-8 UAC) 3-2 in five-sets on Thursday night, winning 24-26, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 15-9.
McKinzee Haas notched her place in Central Arkansas history, recording 12 total blocks in the contest. The mark moves Haas into a tie for second place all-time for total blocks in a five-set match as well as seventh place all-time for total blocks in a single match. Three Sugar Bears recorded double-doubles in the match.
Nicole Sargent led the Sugar Bears with a career high 17 kills, 10 digs, and another career high with six blocks.
Sarah Carnathan tallied 14 kills, 10 digs and two blocks, and
Ella Chaney wrapped up her third double-double in a row with 13 kills, a career high 18 digs, three aces and two blocks.
Central Arkansas reached 24-22 on a
Nicole Sargent kill from
Sophie Skinner, but UT Arlington scored the final four points to take the first set 26-24. Earlier, Central Arkansas opened with the first three points and later moved ahead 11-5 on a Haas kill from
Tatelyn Brandsma.
The Sugar Bears answered a 15-14 deficit in the second set with a stretch that included kills from Chaney and Brandsma, moving in front 19-16. After UT Arlington got back within 21-20, Central Arkansas won four of the final five points, with Sargent recording two late kills before Brandsma closed the 25-21 set.
Central Arkansas could not overcome UT Arlington's mid-set separation, dropping the third set 25-19 after falling behind 15-7. Central Arkansas made its main push later with four straight points to cut the score to 19-16, getting kills from Carnathan and Haas plus a Sargent-Haas block. UT Arlington answered down the stretch, taking the set 25-19.
The Sugar Bears controlled the fourth set from the start and finished it 25-18 on a Haas kill. The set opened with a Haas-Carnathan block and a Chaney ace, and Central Arkansas built an 11-5 lead with early kills from Carnathan,
Sophie Skinner,
Greyson Button and Haas. After UT Arlington got within 20-16, the Sugar Bears won five out of the next seven points to win the set 25-18.
Central Arkansas created separation early in the fifth set with four straight points on
Sophie Skinner's serve, taking a 6-1 lead behind a Haas-Chaney block, an
Olivia Kremer kill and two Sargent kills. After UT Arlington got within 9-7, Central Arkansas answered with kills from Haas and Carnathan and later closed the set on Chaney's kill from Brandsma for a 15-9 finish, winning the match 3-2.
The Sugar Bears are now 6-1 in five-set matches this season.
Nicole Sargent
- 20 points
- Career high 17 kills on .368 hitting
- 10 digs
- 6 total blocks
McKinzee Haas
- Career high 12 total blocks, including 1 solo
- 15.5 points
- 9 kills on .375 hitting
Ella Chaney
- 17 points
- Career high 18 digs
- 13 kills
- 3 service aces
Olivia Kremer
- Career high 25 digs
- 2 assists
Sophie Skinner
- 30 assists
- 7 digs
The Sugar Bears are back in action tomorrow night, hosting North Alabama for Senior Night. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the Prince Center. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available online.
