Central Arkansas Advances in First Southland Tournament
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The No. 1 seed Central Arkansas made quick work of the No. 8 seed Nicholls (25-22, 25-23, 25-12) at the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament in Huntsville, Texas.
Central Arkansas lived up to its No. 1 ranking in the Southland tournament. The regular-season champions rolled through its first match in the conference tournament led by first-team all-conference selections - junior outside hitter Jessica Hays and league player of the year, senior outside hitter Chloe Smith.
Hays posted a double-double driving home a match-high 17 kills and 10 digs. Smith had 12 kills and eight digs. Marissa Collins, the Southland freshman and newcomer of the year recipient, led with a match-high 37 assists. Junior libero Cristin Curl, a second-team all-conference pick recorded a match-high 26 digs.
Nicholls played UCA close in the first two games but were not able to hang on for a fourth game. The Colonels were led by senior outside hitter Rachel Yezak with eight kills.
The Sugar Bears will play the winner of match four between the No. 4 seed UT Arlington and the tournament host No. 5 seed Sam Houston State.
All seven matches of the 2010 tournament will be streamed live for free on SLC NOW and the championship match will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network.
Quotes:
Central Arkansas Coach Steven McRoberts
“Our main goal was to be playing on Saturday.So now that is out of the way, our goal changes to Sunday. It’s great to have the first postseason win for Central Arkansas since we joined the Southland Conference.”
“I’m proud of the girls and the way they fought. Especially early when we were making a lot of errors. I felt they got better as the match went on."
Senior outside hitter Chloe Smith
"It's good to finally play in the postseason and get the first win for UCA. I feel like everyone's been waiting on us to get here and do this, it's just good to finally do it.
"Nicholls played us really well in the fisrt two games. It wasn't easy, but I thought we played really well to close out the match."