Bulldogs Improve to 7-0 at Home with Sweep of Arkansas

Wednesday, October 30

Athens, Ga.

8 p.m.

University of Georgia

16-5,8-2SEC

Arkansas

8-14,2-8SEC

Arkansas

Georgia

Bulldogs Improve to 7-0 at Home with Sweep of Arkansas

October 30, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score Arkansas Box Score 103019

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in straight sets (25-23, 25-20, 25-20) Wednesday evening, maintaining its unblemished record at Stegeman Coliseum.

Senior setter Meghan Donovan recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 36 assists and 10 digs. Donovan's dig count led the Bulldogs defense Wednesday.

Three Bulldogs registered double-digit kills led by 12 from freshman Kacie Evans. Junior Rachel Ritchie notched 11 kills and junior Kianna Young tallied 10.

Sophomore Sage Naves recorded four blocks for the Bulldogs. All four of the Bulldogs blocks came in the final set.

The Bulldogs (16-5, 8-2) sprinted to an early 5-1 lead in set one after three-straight serving aces by junior Brynn Chandler, who finished the match with four. Arkansas then battled back to 13-9, where the Razorbacks won the next five-of-six points to eventually knot it at 18. Georgia was able to fight off an Arkansas comeback and take the 1-0 lead, winning the set 25-23. Ritchie recorded five kills while Donovan notched six digs in the opening stanza.

Neither team was able to force a run in the second set until Georgia won three straight points to go up 13-10. The Bulldogs maintained the lead for the remainder of the set, keeping the Razorbacks at arm's length and taking the frame 25-20. The second set saw eight ties and five lead changes. Young recorded five kills in the set.

After Arkansas (8-14, 2-8) took a quick 4-1 lead in the third set, the Bulldogs battled back and regained momentum with three-straight points, 4-4. Another 3-0 run put the Bulldogs ahead 7-5 but Arkansas quickly tied it again and the teams proceeded to go back-and-forth. Knotted at 14 all, a 6-0 run for Georgia opened a 20-14 lead. The Bulldogs were able to keep the Razorbacks at bay the remainder of the set and secure the sweep with a 25-20 win in set three. Seven of Evans' 12 kills came in the final frame.

Georgia never trailed after being down 4-5 in the third set and won the final frame 25-20.

Up next, the Bulldogs travel to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers Sunday at 1:30 p.m. from Knoxville.

Georgia Head Volleyball Coach Tom Black
On responding to Arkansas' good play...
"Arkansas is an extremely well-coached team so we expected that. I thought we started out a little nervous, a little tight. We started getting a little relaxed, started serving a little tougher, and blocked a few more balls. I think that helped us separate a little until the end."

On bouncing back after a loss...
"They showed a lot of resolve. We weren't happy with it. We wanted to learn the lessons and remind ourselves what we look like when we're good. We had a short, but intense practice yesterday, ready to learn from it and get better."

On having three hitters with double-digit kills...
"I think in any sport the more balanced you are, the more difficult you are to defend. I think that's also attributed to Meghan and the quality of sets she's distributing to hitters. That's a huge goal of any offense, to have as much balance as you can."