Ladyjacks Fall to No. 9 Razorbacks in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Friday, December 1

Fayetteville, AR

7:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

29-5,16-0WAC

University of Arkansas

26-5,15-3SEC

SFA

Arkansas

Photo by: Amanda Paver

Ladyjacks Fall to No. 9 Razorbacks in First Round of NCAA Tournament

12/1/2023 11:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- The University of Arkansas defeated Stephen F. Austin 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

SFA stepped onto the court at Barnhill Arena to square off against the No. 9 team in the country. Arkansas took an early 2-1 lead, but disaster struck for SFA as Ielan Bradley went down with an injury and would not return to the match. The 'Jacks kept the game close with a kill from Camryn Hill, 4-3. However, the Razorbacks found their groove and rattled off five points to extend their lead, 9-3. Later in the set, Arkansas went on a dominating 10-0 run to take a commanding 20-5 lead. SFA only scored three of the final eight points in the first set, 25-8. Looking to hit the reset button in the second set, the 'Jacks started off by winning the first two points of the set. Izabella Ortiz began to spark the offense as she filled in for Bradley on the right side as SFA took a 3-1 lead. The Razorbacks went on a 4-0 spurt to take a slim 5-3 lead and then went on another four points run later in the set to pull ahead 11-5. Arkansas continued to pull away with the second set and won by a score of 25-17. The Razorbacks jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the third set, but the Ladyjacks fought back and cut the lead down to one, 10-9. SFA went on a four-point run to tie the set up at 13. Team traded points back anf forth for the rest of the set, but the 'Jacks did not go down without a fight as the third set ended 25-23 in the Razorbacks favor.

Ortiz and Tanishua Joseph led the attack for SFA with seven kills each, followed by Hill who recorded six. Jayden Flynn led the team with 14 assists, followed by Maddy Bourque who recorded nine. Haley Hoang led the 'Jacks with 16 digs, followed by Flynn who recorded eight. Kyanna Creecy continued to be a force at the net as she led the team with five blocks, followed by Ortiz who recorded two.