UALR Volleyball Sets Record with Win

10 Straight Wins for UALR Volleyball

MONROE, La. – UALR (12-4, 4-0 Sun Belt) won its 10th consecutive match, blowing by ULM (4-16, 0-4 SBC) 25-16, 25-18, 25-16 in Monroe, La. Friday night (Oct. 4).

The win sets a new school standard for consecutive victories, eclipsing the nine-match streak set during the 1997 season.

UALR volleyball outshot ULM .280-.010 and outpaced the Warhawks 37-30 in total kills. The Trojans also led in digs (34-29) and in blocks (5-4).

Individually, UALR was led by junior Edina Begic’s 14 kills. Sophomore Sonja Milanovic recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Carolee Dillard had four blocks, three of which were solo. Dillard continues to lead the SBC in solo blocks with 20 for the season.

Junior Marleen de Zoete contributed a match best 18 assists.

ULM was led by Kaitlyn Shearer’s eight kills. Katie Harrington added 18 assists and Marcela Araya contributed a match-best 13 digs.

The Trojans scored 4-of-5 of the first points of the match, thanks to a Begic kill and three ULM attack errors. UALR took a 9-4 lead before ULM tied it up two kills, two attack errors on UALR and an ace. Both team sided out before UALR took the lead for good on kills from Milanovic and Begic followed by a ULM attack error. A 9-3 run closed the first frame and put the visitors up a set. Begic had five kills while freshman Rachel Williams added three spikes. UALR hit .241 but held ULM to a negative .057.

The Warhawks attempted to rally and won the first two points in the second set. ULM led 11-7 before two kills by Milanovic, an error by the home team and a Dillard block knotted the set. Both teams sided out before a ULM attack error and a Begic kill put the Trojans in the lead for good at 14-12. The Warhawks came within 16-15, but de Zoete put herself on serve with her lone kill of the match and a Begic solo block put the visitors up 18-15 and forced a ULM timeout.

UALR again finished the set hot with five of the last six points. Junior Adisa Hodzic put herself on serve with a kill and another Milanovic spike forced a ULM timeout. Dillard put UALR up 23-17 on a solo block before a Hodzic service error put UALR on serve. A Williams kill and ULM error ended the set. Milanovic had a set high five kills while UALR outhit ULM .304- negative .029.

ULM reached positive numbers hitting in the third set but could not hold off the Trojans. UALR led 9-8 before a Begic kill, two Warhawk errors and a Dillard solo block quickly put UALR up 13-8. With UALR leading 15-12, Begic recorded a pair of kills an ace around a ULM error as the Trojans went up seven. Milanovic ended the night on her 11th kill of the match. For the third, Begic had seven kills on nine swings and no errors (.778 hitting percentage).

UALR returns to action Monday (Oct. 7) when it travels to Troy, Ala., to take on Troy. First serve is set for 11 a.m.