UCA Sugar Bears Volleyball Team Wins Conference Title

Natchitoches, La. – The UCA Sugar Bears volleyball team played their final road match of the regular season on Tuesday night, facing off with Northwestern State at Prather Coliseum, where the Lady Demons had dropped just one match this year. Central Arkansas handed Northwestern State its second home loss of the season, defeating the Lady Demons 3-1 to clench the Southland Conference regular season title.

This marks the fourth season out of the past five that the UCA Sugar Bears volleyball team has won at least a share of the SLC title.

The UCA Sugar Bears volleyball team (24-3, 17-0 SLC) won the first set 25-19 before dropping a hotly contested second set 34-32. Central Arkansas came out of the break and took care of business, taking the third set 30-28 before wrapping up the match with a 15-17 win in the fourth set.

The Sugar Bears got double digit kills from four players on the night, led by Heather Schnars’ match-high 19. Jessica Nagy (18), Scout Brooks (14), and Paige Gantar (12) were the other Central Arkansas players in double figures. Setter Marissa Collins had a huge night for the Sugar Bears, dishing out a match-high 59 assists while also tallying 22 digs, six blocks, and three aces. Collins was one of four UCA players to hit double-figures in digs, along with Shelbee Berringer (28), Schnars (15), and Brooks (12). Gantar also had a big night on the defensive front, tying for the match high with eight blocks. Vanessa Coleman led the Northwestern State (18-11, 14-3 SLC) offense with 14 kills. Mackenzie Neely and Stacey DiFrancesco each added 10 kills. Defensively, the Lady Demons were led by Glynna Johnson, who turned in eight blocks, and Keelie Arneson, who had a match-high 30 digs.

Central Arkansas will wrap up the regular season with a pair of home matches later this week. On Thursday, Nov. 14, Central Arkansas will take place in a multi-sport doubleheader at the Farris Center. The Central Arkansas women’s basketball team will battle Central Baptist College at 5:30, and the Sugar Bears will battle New Orleans at 8:00 pm. The Sugar Bears will finish the season with a Senior Day celebration on Saturday, hosting Southeastern Louisiana at the Prince Center for a 2:00 pm match.