Author: Philip Seaton

Bears dominate in Home Opener

August 30, 2019

By UCA SPORTS INFORMATION

CONWAY –  It was all smiles tonight as Central Arkansas men’s soccer was able to grab a season opening victory against Wright State. The Bears came into tonight having played two exhibition games and was looking to carry over the momentum from exhibition win number two against Tulsa, where they netted six goals in a 6-1 thrashing of the Golden Hurricanes. 

The attacking power was on full display again tonight for the Bears as UCA (1-0) scored four goals, netting three in the second half. The Bears gave up just one goal on what was an unlucky deflection from a set piece. 

First Half

The match got off to a rip roaring start as both teams created scoring chances early on, and would continue to create chances the entire duration of the first half.

  • UCA’s Moaid Ankir nearly gave the Bears a 1-0 advantage less than two minutes into the match after his strike from just inside the penalty area forced a save from the Wright State keeper.
  • Wright State would nearly grab the lead in the ninth minute after a strike from Jackson Dietrich rattled Olsen’s right crossbar on its way out of play. 
  • The deadlock would be broken in the 20th minute courtesy of Niklas Brodacki. Matthias Bendiksen slid Brodacki through, who was just onside and took care of the rest, finishing into the bottom right corner from six yards out. 
  • Brodacki found himself in another good scoring position in the 25th minute, but his strike flew just wide right and the score remained 1-0. 
  • Central Arkansas was awarded a penalty in the 41st minute, but the Wright State keeper was up to the task denying Brodacki his second goal of the night on a diving stop to his left side.

Second Half

  • Ankir found himself in the six yard box with a one on one opportunity, but was intervened by a Wright State defender, leaving the referee no choice but to award UCA its second penalty kick of the match.
  • Soren Jensen would step up this time, and converted from 12 yards out on a perfectly placed penalty into the bottom left corner, doubling the Bears’ advantage. 
  • Wright State would grab one back in the 62nd minute after a 25 yard free kick strike took an unlucky deflection, leaving Marc Olsen with no chance to react.
  • Kasper Andersen again doubled the Bears’ lead on what was arguably the goal of the match. Great buildup play from Alexsi Morel and Katsu Kimishima put Andersen in a great position and the Denmark international took care of the rest, finding the top corner on a sensational strike from 18 yards out. 
  • UCA’s fourth goal would come from Matthias Bendiksenin the 73rd minute. The skipper took a pass from Brodacki across the 18 yard box and calmly side-footed it into the bottom right corner to give the Bears a 4-1 advantage. 

Ross Duncan Quotes

“I was really happy with the way we came out. We came out flying. Going up two (goals) and then giving up a goal is a dangerous position to be in. The way responded to that is what I’m most proud of.”

Up Next

The Bears are back in action again this Sunday night as they host Campbell State at the Bill Stephens Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM.

Little Rock opens Cross Country Season in Memphis

August 31, 2019

By LITTLE ROCK SPORTS INFORMATION

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock will begin the 2019 cross country season under the lights when the Trojans head to the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic. The women’s race will begin at 9:20 p.m. while the men’s race is expected to start at 10 p.m.

Three Things to Know

  1. Someone Bring the Coffee
    While most cross country races are in the mornings (and the teams usually train in the morning), this race will have a much different feel with such a late start. The women start at 9:20 p.m. and the men at 10 p.m. – nearly 12 hours later than a normal cross country race starts.
  2. Coaching Debuts for Little Rock’s Team
    Saturday’s meet will not only mark the start of the 2019 season for both the men’s and women’s programs but all will mark the debut of two new coaches on the Little Rock coaching staff. Meg Joiner, a former track athlete from Oakland University, is starting her first year working with the women’s distance runners at Little Rock while Alan Webb, Olympian and American record holder in the mile, is working with the men’s distance runners.
  3. Experience Returns
    Little Rock’s men’s team returns three runners that scored in last year’s Memphis Twilight Classic – Ricardo Banks, Emilio Medina and Carter Reynolds – for the Trojans. Banks was second on the team with a 22:13.80 time while Medina ran 22:45.55 and Reynolds clocked 22:49.99 to finish third and fourth, respectively. Meanwhile on the women’s side, Hunter Pual (19:14.83) and Vianney Sanchez (19:41.34) were the second and third-placing runners for the Trojans, respectively. Both sides lost their top finisher from last year’s race.

For the latest information on Little Rock Cross Country, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockTFXC on Facebook and Twitter.

Trojans fall to Razorbacks

August 30, 2019

By LITTLE ROCK SPORTS INFORMATION

FAYETTEVILLE – Two extremely close sets put Little Rock in striking distance but the Trojans fell just short of claiming a set in a loss at Arkansas Friday evening. The match marked the first time the two Natural State schools met in the regular season.

Little Rock (0-2) dropped sets of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-12 in the match against the Razorbacks (2-0) but threatened in the first two sets.

Arkansas 3, Little Rock 0 | 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 | Box Score | PDF | Photo Gallery

Behind the Box Score

  • Little Rock forced five ties in the opening set.
  • A 6-0 run in the second set, capped off by a Carol Barbosa kill, gave the Trojans their greatest chance for a set win. That run pulled Little Rock within 23-21.
  • Midway through that 6-0 run, Arkansas was forced to call timeout after an ace by Diana Giordani.
  • Each team had five service aces but four of Arkansas’ five aces came in the third set.
  • Little Rock only trailed in blocks, 7-5.
  • Arkansas was led by Devyn Wheeler’s .727 hitting percentage (8-0-11).

Leaders by the Numbers

Notables

  • Laura Jansen’s two service aces marked a career high. Her only other career service ace came earlier in the day against Montana State.
  • Diana Giordani’s two service aces fell one short of matching a career high.
  • Giordani’s nine digs ended a streak of eight consecutive matches played with double digit digs.
  • Arkansas now leads the all-time series, 2-0. The teams previously played in the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

Up Next
Little Rock faces Northwestern State on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m.

For the latest information on Little Rock Volleyball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Little Rock Soccer falls to Tulsa

August 30, 2019

By LITTLE ROCK SPORTS INFORMATION

LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan soccer team (1-2-1) was unable to defeat a tough Tulsa team this evening, dropping the road match 3-1. Julia Edholm scored both the team’s and her own second goal of the season in just the fourth match of her collegiate career. Thanks to junior Morgan Smocovich’s cross from the corner, the freshman was able to sink the ball into the net at the 56th minute.

Tulsa earned two goals in the first half at the 17th and 24th minutes, but Little Rock responded in the second before their opponents sealed the deal in the 79th minute.

“We weren’t able to take our chances and they were,” said head coach Mark Foster. “That was the difference – we weren’t able to execute; they were.”I’m delighted at the team’s response to two goals down. They didn’t give up and instead kept fighting. I thought we were going to get an equalizer, but I’m proud of the effort overall.”

The game was quite even for long periods of time, and the Golden Hurricanes provided relentless effort for the Trojan defense to counter, firing off 20 shots. Nevertheless, goaltender Julia Curatolo made four excellent saves while in the box the entire game, while the Tulsa goalie was unable to stop Little Rock’s on-target shot.

Along with her goal, Edholm also registered one shot. Teammates Abril Lucio, a sophomore, and Peyton Laughley, a junior, also joined her with one apiece.

The Trojans will return to their home at Coleman Sports Complex this Sunday, Sept. 1, hosting Missouri State at 1 p.m. For more information on the upcoming match, click here.

For the latest information on Little Rock Soccer, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSOC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Arkansas State-SMU Game Notes

By ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GAME 1: Arkansas State (0-0) hosts SMU (0-0)

Aug. 31, 2019 | Allison Field at Centennial Bank Stadium Jonesboro | 6 p.m.

Radio: EAB Red Wolves Sports Network (107.9 FM, flagship)Matt Stolz (pxp), Tim Allison (analyst), Brad Bobo (sideline)

Television: ESPN+Roger Twibell (pxp), Pete Cordelli (analyst), Rich Zvosec (sideline)

Live Stats: AStateStats.com

Live Game Notes: twitter.com/AStateGameDay

ON TAP: Arkansas State will open its season at home for the fifth time over the last seven seasons, hosting SMU at Centennial Bank Stadium this Saturday, Aug. 31.  The game will appear on ESPN+, and every Red Wolves football game can be heard live on 107.9 FM in the Northeast Arkansas area.  The live radio broadcast can also be accessed on the official A-State Athletics web site (AStateRedWolves.com) and the A-State Athletics app.

THE PRINCIPALS:  The Red Wolves play both their home and season opener Saturday against American Athletic Conference member SMU.  A-State was picked in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches’ poll to finish second in the league’s west division.  SMU, coming off a 5-7 season, was picked to finish fourth in the AAC’s west division in the league’s preseason media poll.

HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON: Blake Anderson, a 19-year coaching veteran at the NCAA FBS level who also coached in an NJCAA National Championship game, was named the Red Wolves’ 30th all-time head coach on Dec. 19, 2013.  Anderson led the Red Wolves to Sun Belt Conference championships in 2015 and 2016, as well as five consecutive winning seasons and five bowl-game appearances (2018 Arizona Bowl, 2017 Camellia Bowl, 2016 Cure Bowl, 2015 New Orleans Bowl, 2014 GoDaddy Bowl) during his first five seasons leading the program.  Under his direction, the Red Wolves have set nine new single-season records, including average yards total offense (494.8 ypg in 2017), total offense (6,174 yards in 2014) and points scored (520 in 2015).

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS: The Arkansas State Athletics Department family was saddened to learn of the passing late Monday night, Aug. 19, of Wendy Anderson, wife of sixth-year head football coach Blake Anderson.  Wendy’s courageous battle with cancer will continue to serve as an inspiration to many across the nation, and the outpouring of support far and wide for the Andersons and the A-State family has been overwhelming.  Coach Anderson has taken a leave of absence to be with his family during this difficult time.

DUGGAN NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH: Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator David Duggan was named A-State’s interim head coach on Monday, Aug. 19, until Blake Anderson decides to resume his activities as head coach.  A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Terry Mohajir remains in communication with Coach Anderson both on a personal and professional level and has stated that A-State “will obviously respect and honor any amount of time he needs before he feels he can return.”

INTERIM HEAD COACH DAVID DUGGAN: Currently serving in the interim head coach role at A-State, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator David Duggan is in his first season with the Red Wolves.  While he holds a 10-9 all-time record as a head coach in NFL Europe and possesses 26 years of collegiate coaching experience, he will be the acting head coach in a college football game for the first time when A-State plays SMU Aug. 31 in its season opener.  He came to the Red Wolves after spending the previous three seasons at Western Michigan, where he helped lead the program to a pair of bowl games, a Mid-American Conference championship and a combined 26-13 record.  His initial year saw the Broncos post an undefeated 13-0 regular-season record, a final No. 12 ranking and a berth in the Cotton Bowl, where it dropped a narrow 24-16 decision to Wisconsin.

THE ARKANSAS STATE-SMU SERIES: The Red Wolves and Mustangs have met just three times before, playing a home-and-home series in 2006 and 2007 as well as the first contest of the current home-and-home arrangement in 2017.  SMU leads the series 2-1 after claiming 55-9 and 44-21 victories in Dallas in 2006 and 2017, respectively.  The Red Wolves’ picked up their lone win in the series in 2007, when it defeated the Mustangs 45-28 in Jonesboro.

A-STATE vs AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Arkansas State holds an all-time 29-37-5 record against current members of the American Athletic Conference. While the Red Wolves are set to face a team competing as a member of the league at the time of the game for just the fifth time in school history, this will be third consecutive season they have played an AAC foe.  Their four previous games against the AAC came in 2013 when they fell 31-7 at Memphis, 2016 when they defeated UCF 31-13 in the Cure Bowl, 2017 when they dropped a 44-21 decision at SMU and last season when they topped Tulsa 29-20 on the road.  A-State has also played the following current AAC teams, although they weren’t members of the league at the time of the games:  Cincinnati (1-1), East Carolina (0-2) and Navy (0-1).  The Red Wolves hold an all-time 3-2 record versus Tulsa and 23-29-5 record against Memphis.

FOR STARTERS: A-State snapped a three-year skid in season openers last year when they defeated Southeast Missouri State 48-21.    Since moving to FBS status in 1992, the Red Wolves have posted just a 6-21 record in season openers.  In addition to its 2018 season-opening win, A-State began the 2014 (37-10 vs Montana State), 2013 (62-11 vs. UAPB), 2008 (18-14 at Texas A&M), 2006 (14-6 vs. Army) and 1995 (21-17 vs. Utah State) campaigns with wins.

HOME OPENERS: Arkansas State claimed a 48-21 win over Southeast Missouri State last season in its home opener and has won its first game at Centennial Bank Stadium in 12 of the last 14 seasons dating back to 2005.  The Red Wolves stand 32-13 all-time in home openers at the stadium and are also 18-8 in such games since moving to FBS status in 1992.

HOME SWEET HOME: Arkansas State has strung together 14 consecutive years (2005-18) with a winning record at Centennial Bank Stadium dating back to 2005.  The Red Wolves are now 64-15 (.810 winning percentage) since the 2005 season and have won 39 of their last 47 home outings.  The Red Wolves actual on-field record all-time at Centennial Bank Stadium is 156-78-1 since it opened in 1974.  A-State’s six home wins in 2011 were its most since 1985.  The 2011 season also marked the last time the Red Wolves went undefeated at Centennial Bank Stadium.

AN A-STATE VICTORY WOULD . . . :  even its all-time record vs. SMU to 2-2 . . . mark the 13th time over the last 15 seasons it has won its home opener . . . give the Red Wolves a win in their season opener in back-to-back years for the first time since 2013 and 2014 . . . move its all-time record vs the American Athletic Conference to 3-2 . . . give David Duggan his first collegiate victory as a head coach.

PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT: Including five first-team and six second-team selections, the Arkansas State placed a league-high 11 different players on the 2019 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team.  Representing Arkansas State on the first team were senior wide receiver Kirk Merritt, junior tight end Javonis Isaac, junior defensive end William Bradley-King, junior defensive lineman Forrest Merrill and junior cornerback Jerry Jacobs.  Earning a spot on the second team for the Red Wolves were senior wideout Omar Bayless, junior center Jacob Still, senior defensive lineman Kevin Thurmon, senior safeties Darreon Jackson and B.J. Edmonds and senior punter Cody Grace.  A-State’s 11 selections tied Appalachian State, which had 10 players comprise its 11 picks, for the most in the conference.  The Red Wolves’ 11 players on the preseason all-conference team are their most since 2016, when they also had 11.  They have now earned at least 11 selections four of the last six seasons as well.

WATCH ME, WATCH ME: A-State has 10 players on at least one major watch list for the 2019 season, including six who play on the offensive side of the ball (Logan Bonner, Dahu Green, Javonis Isaac, Kirk Merritt, Marcel Murray, Jacob Still), three on the defensive (Tajhea Chambers, Darreon Jackson, Jerry Jacobs) and one on special teams (Cody Grace).  The Red Wolves have at least one player on 11 different watch lists.

EIGHT STRAIGHT: Arkansas State has secured a winning record in a school-record eight consecutive seasons (2011-18).  The next longest streak was six straight seasons from 1912-17.  The Red Wolves have piled up 67 victories from 2011-18 for its most over an eight-year span in the program’s 105-year history.

ELITE COMPANY: Arkansas State is one of just four teams in the nation to win five conference titles and appear in eight bowl games since 2011, joining Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma.  The Red Wolves won the Sun Belt title in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 and hold the 15th longest active streak in the nation for bowl game appearances with eight.

105TH SEASON: Arkansas State will kick off its 105th season of football Aug. 31 at home against SMU.  A-State holds a 473-487-37 record since the inaugural season and has played in 16 bowl games.  A-State did not field a team from 1942-44 due to World War II.  Arkansas State also didn’t have a team in 1918 as World War I was ending.

A-STATE vs THE SUN BELT: Arkansas State has won 51 of its last 63 Sun Belt Conference games (.810 winning percentage) to run its all-time record in the league to 83-48.  The Red Wolves hold their most all-time victories against ULM with 26.  A-State has defeated every team in the conference since the football league was formed in 2001.  Along with ULM and Louisiana, A-State is one of three teams that have been a part of the conference since its inaugural football season.

SUN BELT CHAMPS (5 of 8): While Arkansas State last won the Sun Belt in 2016, it is still the only Group of 5 program and one of just four FBS programs in the nation to win five conference championships over the last eight years (2011-18).  The only other teams to do so are Alabama (SEC), Clemson (ACC) and Oklahoma (Big 12).  The Red Wolves most recently won back-to-back Sun Belt titles in 2015 and 2016, compiling a 15-1 league record over that span.  A-State also won the league title 2011-13, making it one of just two programs in league history with at least five SBC titles.

BOWL ELIGIBLE: Arkansas State has obtained bowl eligibility status each of the last eight years (2011-18) and 11 times over the last 14 seasons.  Arkansas State has become bowl eligible in 10 games or less each of those seasons.  Since moving to FBS status in 1992, the earliest A-State ever became bowl eligible was in 2011 when it was 6-2 through eight games.

BOWL STREAK: Arkansas State has made a school-record eight consecutive bowl-game appearances (2011-18), which is the third longest streak in the Group of 5 and ranks 15th in the nation among all FBS programs.

A LOOK BACK: With a 3-1 record, Arkansas State secured a winning record last season against non-conference opponents for the first time since 1995, when it went 3-2.  Additional, with wins against Tulsa and UNLV, the Red Wolves won back-to-back non-conference games against FBS opponents for the first time ever since moving to FBS status in 1992.300-PLUS:  Dating back to the 2010 season, Arkansas State has posted at least 300 yards total offense in 104 of its last 115 games (.904 percentage).  A-State has produced 300 yards in 59 of 64 games during the Blake Anderson era, including the last 25 in a row.400-PLUS:  Arkansas State has hit the 400-yard total offense mark 43 times over its last 64 games (67 percent) since 2014, which was Blake Anderson’s first season as head coach.  The Red Wolves have posted 400 or more yards total offense in each of their last seven games.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: Including 20 of their last 39 contests, the Red Wolves have posted at least 30 points in 61 of their last 94 regular-season games (65 percent) dating back to the 2011 season.  The Red Wolves have won 48 of their last 54 games when scoring at least 30 points.

A LOSS ON THE PLAY: Dating back to the 2015 season, the Red Wolves have posted at least five stops behind the line of scrimmage in 39 of their last 42 games.  A-State has ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation each of the last three seasons in tackles for loss.

GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK: A-State has ranked among the top 27 teams in the nation in sacks four of the last five years, posting a combined 177 sacks over that span.  The Red Wolves have recorded at least one sack in 36 of their last 37 games dating back to the 2016 season.

Pollock promoted to A-State Women’s Golf Assistant

August 26, 2019

By ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JONESBORO – A graduate assistant the last two seasons, Rachel Pollock has been promoted to assistant coach for the Arkansas State women’s golf program, head coach M.J. Desbiens Shaw announced Monday.

“It is an amazing time to have Rachel Pollock back for a third year,” Desbiens Shaw said. “As a coach, you always try to find your best assistant and that’s what we have with Rachel. She has brought a tremendous amount of golf knowledge to our team, she has so much enthusiasm to share and has made such an impact on our course management so far. I could not be happier with such a great assistant and I look forward to a very successful season.”

Pollock helped guide the Red Wolves to their best three-round score (889) ever at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, which was also their best in any tournament since at least the 2000-01 season. The total included the second lowest single-round score of the season, a 294 for in the second round of the league championship.

“First, I would like to thank M.J., (Athletics Director) Terry Mohajir and (Senior Women’s Administrator) Amy Holt for all of their support and opportunity to return to this program as assistant coach,” Pollock said. “I look forward to continuing to help build a successful program on the golf course and in the classroom.”

Her first season at A-State saw the Red Wolves place fifth at the Sun Belt Conference Championships to match their best finish at the tournament since 2003-04. A-State posted a 305.4 team stroke average that was its top mark since at least before the 2002-03 season.

Pollock came to the program after spending four seasons competing for East Tennessee State University. Playing in all but five events in her college career with the Buccaneers, Pollock recorded a career‐best‐three‐round total of 5‐over 221 (74‐73‐74) at the Fall Invitational hosted by Kennesaw State in the fall of 2015.

Pollock helped the Buccaneers to two wins and 18 top‐five finishes in her four seasons. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors while earning her B.S. in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching from East Tennessee State University in 2017.

The Canadian native finished 12th on Golf Canada’s 2016‐17 Order of Merit and eighth on the 2011‐12 Junior Order of Merit. She is bilingual in French and English.

A-State opens the 2019-20 season on Sept. 9 at the Payne Stewart Memorial in Springfield, Mo. A-State will host the Lady Red Wolves Classic Oct. 14-15 at Sage Meadows Golf Club.

Red Wolves earn First Win of Restrep Era

August 30, 2019

By ARKANSAS SPORTS INFORMATION

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the opening day of the 2019 volleyball campaign, the Arkansas State volleyball team went 1-1 to open the Santiago Restrepo era, dropping a tight 3-2 season-opener to Milwaukee before sweeping North Alabama to mark Restrepo’s first win as head coach on Friday at the Bruiser Showcase.

Peyton Uhlenhake led the way for the Red Wolves (1-1), recording double-double performances in both matches. A-State also flexed its muscles defensively against UNA, holding the Lions to an attack percentage of .056. That effort marked the first time the Red Wolves held an opponent to a sub-.100 mark in that category since Oct. 13, 2018 vs. ULM.

MATCH 1 – Milwaukee 3, Arkansas State 2

In the season opener for both squads, Milwaukee claimed a tight 3-2 victory against the Red Wolves behind three players with double-digit kills and 10 aces. After dropping the first set, A-State battled back to take a 2-1 lead before the Panthers responded by forcing the decisive fifth set.

A-State was led by Peyton Uhlenhake, who posted the first double-double of her career (12 kills, 12 digs) and led the team in kills. Macey Putt also notched double-digit kills (11) and recorded a match-high 14.0 points. Julianna Cramer joined Uhlenhake with a double-double, collecting 10 digs to go along with a team-high 20 assists. Kendahl Davenport, in her collegiate debut, tallied a match-high 7.0 total blocks. Also on the defensive end, Ryley Gill collected a team-leading 13 digs.

Set 1 – Milwaukee 25-15
Milwaukee opened on a 4-0 run, and would not look back despite a late run by the Red Wolves pulling to within 3 early at 8-5 after a kill by Macey Putt, who tallied 5 of her 11 kills in the first set.

The Panthers would increase their lead by as much as 13 at 20-7 and would endure a late 6-0 A-State run that cut the deficit to 23-14. Milwaukee would take two of the next three points to take an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Set 2 – A-State 25-17
The Red Wolves bounced back in the second set, as Peyton Uhlenhake led the charge, recording 4 of her 12 kills (.625 attack %). Uhlenhake and Timber Terrell got the team started with two kills apiece in A-State’s 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead, which was capped off by a Uhlenhake service ace.

A-State would continue to increase its lead, as Hannah Cox served back-to-back aces to move the Red Wolves ahead 15-8. The Panthers would surge late to cut the deficit to 18-15, but that would not be enough as A-State held on to take the second set 25-17.

Set 3 – A-State 25-18
The Red Wolves continued to improve on the offensive end, tallying 13 kills for the second straight set. A-State also benefited from a 7-2 run to open the stanza and led by as much as 8 in the set at 17-9.

At the net, Kendahl Davenport recorded 4 of her 7 total blocks on the day in the third set. Uhlenhake would go on to give the Red Wolves a 2-1 lead in the match with her fifth kill of the set.

Set 4 – Milwaukee 25-14
Milwaukee capitalized on another early 7-0 run, which the Red Wolves would not be able to overcome, despite a late 3-0 run to cut the deficit to 20-14. The Panthers would close with five more points to take a 25-14 decision to force a fifth set.

Josie Stanford led A-State offensively, recording 4 kills in the set.

Set 5 – Milwaukee 15-10
Both teams showcased intensity in the winner-take-all fifth set, with neither team taking more than a two-point advantage until Milwaukee broke a 10-all stalemate with a 5-0 run to take the set and match.

Macey Putt led all players with 3 kills in the set, while Madison Brown and Uhlenhake also contributed to the cause.

MATCH 2 – Arkansas State 3, North Alabama 0

In the second half of the twin bill, the Red Wolves stepped up offensively, hitting .241 with 42 kills on 37 assists. UNA, on the other hand, recorded only 21 kills on the day after besting Belmont in the previous match. After taking the first two sets by double-figures, the Red Wolves had to claw back from an early deficit if it wanted to take the third set. After knotting it up at 15-all, A-State sealed the deal with a 25-18 decision in the third to move to earn Restrepo’s first win as head coach at Arkansas State.

A-State was led by Uhlenhake again, who posted her second-straight double-double (14 kills, 10 digs). Malgorzata Andersohn also added a double-double performance with 18 assists and 10 digs. Timber Terrellenjoyed a strong outing, hitting .357 on 7 kills with a pair of block assists, while Macey Putt added 10 kills and a block assist.

Set 1 – A-State 25-14
After knotting it up at 2-all, Arkansas State went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-2 lead. From there, the Red Wolves would cruise to as much as a 22-8 lead. UNA powered back to cut the deficit to 23-14, but it would be too little too late, as a kill by Madison Brown and service ace by Josie Stanford closed out the set.

Timber Terrell recorded a 1.000 attack percentage in the set, going 3-for-3 to pave the way. Peyton Uhlenhake led all players with 4 kills.

Set 2 – A-State 25-10
The Red Wolves picked up right where they left off, going on an 11-1 run right out of the gate. After the Lions cut the A-State lead to 13-8, the Red Wolves scored 12 of the next 14 points to close out the set.

Much like the first set, the Red Wolves ended on an ace, this time by Hannah Cox – her second of the match and third of the day.

Set 3 – A-State 25-18
UNA turned the tables to start the third, going on an early 7-2 run, but the Red Wolves fought back to tie it up and eventually take the lead for good on a kill by Macey Putt that moved A-State ahead 16-15. After Anna Katherine Griggs tallied a kill for the Lions to cut the deficit to 17-16, the Scarlet and Black claimed eight of the last 10 points to earn the sweep.

Fittingly, the third set ended just as the previous two – on a service ace. This time, Cramer had the honors of clinching the match for the Red Wolves.

Quick Hitters

   – With the win against North Alabama, the Red Wolves are now a perfect 28-0 when taking the first two sets, dating back to 2017.

   – Arkansas State’s sweep against North Alabama marked the first 3-set triumph since Nov. 9, 2018 at ULM.

   – Dating back to 2018, Arkansas State is 9-3 when holding opponents to an attack percentage of under .200.

   – Four Red Wolves – Malgorzata Andersohn, Hannah Cox, Kendahl Davenport and Paulina Sobolewska – made their collegiate debuts between the two matches.

   – Peyton Uhlenhake tallied career highs in kills (14) against North Alabama and digs (12) against Milwaukee.

Next Up

The Red Wolves will close out opening weekend in their first true road test of the season, taking on host Belmont at the Bruiser Showcase. First serve is slated for 2 p.m., and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription only) with Christian Kaposy on the call.

Arkansas State owns a 6-2 lead in the series against the Bruins, although Belmont has claimed the last two meetings.

Schedule: 
Saturday, Aug. 31:
11 a.m. – Milwaukee vs. North Alabama
2 p.m. – Arkansas State at Belmont (LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE ON ESPN+ [$])

Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State University Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.

Deifel announces addition of Assistant Coach Annie Smith

August 30, 2019

By JESSICA ROBERSON/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE – Head softball coach Courtney Deifel continues to improve the Razorback staff with the recent addition of Annie Smith as a volunteer assistant. Smith comes to Fayetteville after stints at Auburn, LSU, Georgia Southern, Mississippi State and Missouri.

“I am thrilled to add Annie Smith to our staff,” Deifel said. “Not only is she a great coach, she is also an exceptional person. Annie is very well versed in what it takes to be successful in the SEC and her impact will be immediate.”

Since she began her career, Smith has coached eight All-Americans, 56 All-Conference selections and 41 All-Region honorees. Her squads have been equally as impressive in the classroom, garnering 123 NFCA Academic Scholar-Athlete honors.

Smith also boasts professional experience, as she was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) in 2017.

Before rejoining the SEC, Smith served as the head coach at Georgia Southern, where she complied 176 wins and reached the NCAA Tournament twice. Smith and the Eagles captured the Southern Conference title in 2012 and in 2014. The Eagles also won the conference tournament in 2012 and 2013. For her efforts, Smith was honored as the conference’s coach of the year in 2012 and 2014.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity to join Coach Deifel and her staff at the University of Arkansas,” said Smith. “I am looking forward to calling Fayetteville home, continuing to coach in the SEC, while being closer to my parents. I cannot wait to get started. Wooo Pig!”

Smith currently stands as the quickest coach in Georgia Southern history to 100 wins, while her teams rewrote the record books for home runs, doubles and fielding percentage. She was instrumental in the development of the three-time conference pitcher of the year and the two-time freshman of the year in the league.

Before Georgia Southern, she spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Mississippi State before being promoted to associate head coach following the 2007 season. The Manhattan, Kan. native helped the Bulldogs to 295 victories and six NCAA Regional appearances. She worked with three USA Softball National Team members and the back-to-back SEC Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

Smith received her bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from Grinnell College where she was a captain on the softball team. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Missouri in health and exercise science with an emphasis in sports psychology.

For all Razorback softball news and information, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com and follow the Hogs on Twitter at @RazorbackSB, on Facebook at Razorback Softball and on Instagram at @Razorback_SB. Fans can also follow head coach Courtney Deifel on twitter at @CoachDeifel.

Tusk V to make Debut against Portland State

By RAZORBACK COMMUNICATIONS

FAYTTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas, home to one of the nation’s longest tenured and most recognizable live mascot programs, will celebrate the debut of Tusk V, the official live mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Born Saturday, April 19, 2018, at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle, Arkansas, Tusk V is the son of recently retired, Tusk IV, a Russian boar which closely resembles the type of “wild band of razorback hogs,” first described by then Arkansas head football coach Hugo Bezdek in 1909. The following year, in 1910, University of Arkansas students voted to officially adopt the new nickname changing the mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.

Tusk V officially takes over official mascot duties after his father, Tusk IV, who retired at the end of the 2019 Razorback Baseball season.

Tusk V lives on the Stokes Family Farm near Dardanelle, Arkansas. The work of caring for V is shared between Keith and his wife Julie, their daughter Abbey, their son Chip and his wife Lori, five-year-old son (Keith and Julie’s grandson), Colt and two-year-old daughter(Keith and Julie’s grandson), Caroline.

Tusk V will make a two-hour trek up to Northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game as well as select other Razorback athletics events throughout the year. Beloved by Razorback and opposing team fans of all ages, Tusk is always the center of attention when he makes an appearance at games or other special events. Through the years, he has traveled the state and throughout the region to appear at various locations including at bowl games, Razorback Clubs and even the Arkansas State Capitol.

Arkansas’ first live mascot, Tusk I was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years.

After spending four football seasons at the Little Rock Zoo, Tusk I was moved to the Tyson Foods Farm in Springdale in 2001. In 2002, Tusk I became the father to Tusk II. Tusk I passed away in 2004 and his son, Tusk II, was moved from the Tyson Farm to the Stokes Family Farm and served as the live mascot from 2005 until 2010.

Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II and both were second-generation Russian boars. Tusk III served for only one football season in 2010. Tusk IV is the son of Tusk II and took over as the official live mascot during the 2011 football season. He recently completed his seventh season.

In 2008, Razorback Athletics created the Tusk Fund to help provide financial assistance for the maintenance and upkeep of the live mascot program. Donations to the fund provide Tusk with improvements to his facilities and most of all, create a legacy program for guaranteeing the longevity of the Razorback live mascot program. Fans interested in supporting the Tusk Fund, can do so by clicking here.

The tradition of a live mascot predates the Tusk lineage, dating back to the 1960s with a series of hogs that have proudly represented Arkansas.

Razorback fans of all ages will have the opportunity to interact with Tusk V in HogTown beginning four hours prior to kickoff of each home game. Additionally, Tusk V will lead Coach Chad Morris and members of the Razorback Football team through the official Hog Walk which will take place two hours and forty minutes prior to kick through HogTown.

For more information on Tusk V, click here or follow @Tusk_UA on Twitter.

No. 8 Arkansas Women set for Hurricane Invitational

By JEFF SMITH/Arkansas Sports Information

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 8 Arkansas women’s cross country team will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma this weekend, opening its 2019 season at the Hurricane Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 31.

The season opener will feature the Razorbacks taking on three regional foes including Oklahoma, No. 19 Oklahoma State, and host Tulsa. Arkansas will toe the line for the two-mile race at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Mohawk Soccer Complex. The meet will be scored as a normal team format and not as a dual meet.

The Razorbacks head into the new year ranked No. 1 in the South Central region, and No. 8 in the country, announced by the USTFCCCA earlier this week. A Southeastern Conference poll of the leagues head coaches was released Monday, projected Arkansas to win a seventh-straight title at the 2019 SEC Championships.

The 2018 season concluded with Arkansas capturing an SEC Championship, a first-place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional, and a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

The Razorbacks return five All-SEC performers in Taylor Werner, Carina Viljoen, Lauren Gregory, Maddy Reed, and 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year Katrina Robinson

For more information on Arkansas track and field, including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.