Box Score
Conway, Ark. – The much anticipated matchup between the two teams selected to win their respective divisions in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll did not go the Bobcats' way on Saturday afternoon as the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears defeated Texas State, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-14), at the Prince Center.
With the loss, the Bobcats had their season-high four-match winning streak stopped as they moved to 14-10 overall and 7- 3 in the Southland Conference. Meanwhile, Central Arkansas improved to 21-6 overall and 10-0 in the conference while winning its 32nd consecutive SLC match – the second longest streak in the nation. UCA also ran its home winning streak to 26 matches after winning their 15th straight match this season.
Sets one and two were both tightly contested as the Bobcats remained within striking distance throughout each stanza before the Sugar Bears came out on top. The final set began with Central Arkansas making a big push to begin the set before the Bobcats came back to within six points. However, the Sugar Bears regained control of the set before closing out the match in three sets.
Central Arkansas led the Bobcats in hitting percentage (.341-.179), assists (38-31) and digs (29-28), but the major difference in the match came at the service line where the Sugar Bears held a 9-1 advantage in aces. The two teams each recorded 7.0 blocks during the contest.
Freshman Amari Deardorff led the way for the Bobcats on Saturday, posting a team-high 12 kills along with a .318 hitting percentage. The right side hitter had 10 kills in the first two sets before the Sugar Bears focused their block on Deardorff, limiting her to two kills during the third set.
AJ Watlington added eight kills for the Bobcats, while Mo Middleton and Madeline Gaffney each finished with five winners. Gaffney hit .714 for the contest as she connected on five of her seven swings for kills.
Shelbi Irvin and Caleigh McCorquodale totaled 30 assists combined for the match as Irvin had 17 and McCorquodale had 13.
Danielle Sanchou led the team in digs with eight. Irvin and Watlington each finished with five digs apiece.
Ashlee Hilbun, Watlington and Gaffney each finished with three block assists for the Bobcats. Amber Calhoun and Middleton each added two block assists, and Deardorff finished with one block for Texas State.
Leading the way for Central Arkansas were Jessica Hays and Chloe Smith. Hays had a match-high 15 kills and three aces, while Smith totaled 12 kills and a .400 hitting percentage.
Texas State returns to action on Thursday, October 28 when the Bobcats travel to Sam Houston State.
