VOLLEYBALL
UALR tops Kansas in NCAA Tournament
UALR overcame a 2-1 deficit to beat Kansas 3-2 (27-25, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10) Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Topeka, Kan.
The Trojans (29-4) won their 25th consecutive match and will face Oregon State (20-12) at 6:30 tonight. Oregon State defeated Creighton 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21).
Edina Begic led the Trojans with 27 kills and 19 digs. Sonja Milanovic had 15 kills and 16 digs. Megan Mathis had 4 kills, 42 assists and 11 digs.
Kansas was led by Kelsie Payne and Sara McClinton, who each finished with 15 kills. Ainse Havili had 54 assists and 13 digs. Chelsea Albers had 20 digs and 9 kills, and Tiana Dockery had 14 kills and 10 digs.
Both teams split the first two sets, and the teams were tied 15-15 in the third set before UALR took a 20-18 lead. Kansas scored five consecutive points to take the lead, thanks to two attack errors by Adisa Hodzic and one by Begic. Milanovic had two kills to bring the Trojans to within 24-22 before Kansas’ Kelsie Payne finished off the match with a kill.
UALR overcame 2-0 and 3-1 deficits in the fourth set to tie the match 5-5. UALR took the lead for good at 9-8 on a kill by Milanovic before pulling away
The teams were tied 6-6 in the fifth set, but the Trojans scored the next three points for a 9-6 lead. Kansas pulled to within 12-10 on a service error, an ace and kills by Chelsea Albers and Tiana Dockery before UALR finished scored three consecutive points to finish the match. Begic had a kill, Edina Sellmovic had a block and Milanovic had a kill before Sellmovic’s block ended the match.
UALR is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2000.