Alabama
Arkansas
Volleyball Drops 3-1 Decision at Arkansas
10/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The volleyball team fell 3-1 (25-20, 13-25, 25-16, 28-26) Friday to Arkansas in Barnhill Arena. With the loss, the Crimson Tide dips to 9-13 overall and 1-11 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Razorbacks improve to 11-13 on the season and 5-8 against league opponents.
"For the past five matches we have been reacting to the opponent we have played, and tonight was exactly the same," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "We consistently allow teams to dictate the tempo to start a match, and then we react to what they started. We certainly were physically capable of winning the match tonight, yet we lose another close one. I keep telling our players the time is going to come that we make that breakthrough. If we keep priming the pump, but we are going to have to have more of a sense of urgency about us and a stronger desire to dictate the type of match we want to play. Time is of essence."
Sophomore Kayla Fitterer led the Alabama offense with 15 kills followed by senior Alyssa Meuth, who added 13. Fitterer also scooped up 11 digs for her third consecutive double-double. Senior Kayla Schmidt tallied a team-high 27 assists, while sophomore Kelsey Anderson recorded a team-best 19 digs.
Arkansas came out strong earning the first four points of the match with a service ace and a trio of kills. Alabama gradually chipped away at the Razorback lead and soon tied the first at 10-10. Arkansas then went on to score four unanswered points to force a Tide timeout. The Razorbacks continued to pace the frame going ahead by as many as seven late. With the score set at 24-17, Alabama managed to fend off three set-point opportunities until an Arkansas kill awarded the first to the Razorbacks 25-20.
The Tide got off to a better start in the second collecting the first three points, all of which were kills. Arkansas tacked on its first point of the set due to an Alabama service error, but then the Tide went on to score the next six straight causing the Razorbacks to burn a timeout. Alabama remained in front taking as much as a 14 point lead in the set. Freshman Morgan Hendrix closed out the second on a kill giving the Tide a 25-13 win to tie the match at one set all heading into intermission.
Arkansas jumped on top early in the third going up by as many as four early on before Alabama called its first timeout of the set. From there, the Razorbacks continued to distance themselves from the Tide taking their largest lead of seven on five occasions. The Tide avoided a pair of Razorback set-point chances before a kill ended the fourth 25-16.
Again, Arkansas would take the early lead until a Razorback service error tied the frame at 4-4. Arkansas went on to score four consecutive points, two of which were earned. Alabama tied the set three times before taking its first lead of the frame at 20-19 off a Razorback attack error. There was one additional lead change as Arkansas took control back at 22-21 which would prove to be pivotal. Despite five more ties in the set, the Razorbacks would hold on to take the win 28-26.
"The difference in tonight's match was passing," Green said. "Only Kelsey Anderson gave the type of effort we needed to pass and sideout. She is now at times passing two thirds of the court, and we cannot ask much more of her."
For the match, Arkansas narrowly out-hit Alabama collecting 55 kills on a .227 attacking percentage compared to the Tide's 53 kills and .214 hitting percentage. The teams were tied in assists, 52-52, and blocks, 6.0-6.0, but the Razorbacks collected two more service aces than Alabama, 3-1.
The Tide will continue its road trip in Baton Rouge, La., where it will take on No. 16 LSU on Sunday, Oct. 31. First serve is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT.
