Razorbacks sweep Syracuse in K-State finale

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Closing out its weekend at the K-State Invitational, Arkansas swept Syracuse to improve to 5-1 through the first two weeks of the 2017 season.

All-tournament picks Pilar Victoria and Elizabeth Pamphile led the way with 19 and nine kills, respectively.

Collectively, the Razorbacks registered a .337 hitting percentage and served eight aces in the match.

Arkansas’ next match is Tuesday, Sept. 5 when it returns to Barnhill Arena to host Oral Roberts.

The midweek matchup will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) and mark the 20th meeting in the all-time series between the two programs.

In recognition of National Cheese Pizza day, the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free slice of cheese pizza.

FINAL
Arkansas 3, Syracuse 0 | Box Score
Attendance: 341 | Time: 1:17
Ahearn Field House (Manhattan, Kan.)

Leaders vs Syracuse
• Kills: Pilar Victoria – 19
• Digs: Krista Kolbinskie – 9
• Blocks: Kelly O’Brien – 2.0 (0-2)

Of Note …
• Runner-up finish (2-1) at the K-State Invitational
• Second all-time meeting with Syracuse; first since 1999
• Five Razorbacks—Victoria (3), Johnson (2), Rippee (1), Robinson (1), Valle (1)—had an ace
• Krista Kolbinskie tied career high with nine digs

On her way to all-tournament accolades, Victoria continued the strong start to her redshirt senior campaign with 6.73 kills per set and .381 hitting percentage during the K-State Invitational. She had at least 19 kills in each match and added 2.36 digs per set.

Pamphile finished the weekend with 2.09 kills per set and a .340 hitting percentage. She tied her career high with nine kills in Saturday’s match.

With the score tied at 11-all in the opening set, Arkansas won seven of the next nine points to establish its largest lead of the game at 18-13.

The Razorbacks capped the surge with an ace by Victoria, the team’s third service winner of the game.

Syracuse (3-4) saved three set points and pulled to within 24-22 but out of a timeout, Arkansas turned to Victoria who came through with a kill off the block.

The Razorbacks won the first three points of the second set and pushed their lead to 10-2 after consecutive kills from Kelly O’Brien and Hailey Dirrigl.

The advantage was 20-12 after a kill by Reagan Robinson. The sophomore attacker pushed her team to set point at 24-13 with an ace, and as she did in the first, Victoria closed the frame with a kill.

Arkansas combined for a .545 hitting percentage in the second set while holding Syracuse to a .000 mark.

The Orange won the first two points of the third for its first lead of the match but Arkansas scored 10 of the next 12 to go ahead 10-4 and force its opponent into a timeout.

O’Brien and Pamphile combined for seven kills in the third frame including kills that gave the team leads of 20-13 and 24-16, respectively.

On match point, libero Okiana Valle chased down a ball heading out of bounds to keep the play alive which led to a Syracuse error and the Razorbacks’ third sweep of the year.