Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arkansas volleyball team to play at UA-Fort Smith
FORT SMITH — Area fans will get a chance to look at the University of Arkansas volleyball team tonight in Fort Smith when the Razorbacks will take on Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Arkansas is coming off its best season in program history, advancing to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. But graduation hit the Razorbacks hard.
Senior outside hitters Jill Gillen and Taylor Head are gone after earning American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honors last seasons. Right-side hitter Maggie Cartwright and Gillen were also drafted in the inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation draft following leading the Razorbacks to an Elite Eight appearance.
First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Gayle Kaundart Arena in the Stubblefield Center. Arkansas Coach Jason Watson said he has liked what he’s seen from his group in the spring thus far.
“I think it’s been productive,” said Watson, who was named the Razorbacks’ third head coach in 2016. “Certainly lots of question marks that we haven’t had for a couple years, and so we’re trying to figure some stuff out.”
Watson also described his team as being “competition deficient” especially when the Razorbacks get to the fall.
“We just haven’t played volleyball against others enough,” Watson said. “We lost a lot of game-time experience. You want that competition to expose those things you don’t see. We will get some of those reps in the spring, but the gap between the spring and fall is an eternity.”
Arkansas hosted Louisiana-Monroe already in the spring then participates in two tournaments at Missouri-Kansas City on April 6 and at Missouri State on April 13 following today’s match in Fort Smith.
Watson said there are certain areas that are still strong despite losing some talented players.
“The level of athleticism and the willingness to learn and get better is as good as it’s always been,” Watson said.
The match will also be special for Fort Smith native Hannah Hogue to play in her hometown. The 5-8 senior setter played in all 127 sets a year ago for the Razorbacks and earned All-Southeastern Conference honors.
UAFS Coach Jane Sargent said she is excited to help promote the sport of volleyball in the area and to see Hogue.
“I watched that kid grow up,” Sargent said. “I offered her in the seventh grade thinking this kid is going to be special. I just think it’s going to be exciting and bring in a little more excitement to the sport of volleyball. I think people around town are buzzing about it.”
Sargent graduated six seniors, all of which played some role a year ago for a team that finished 22-8. But 6-6 redshirt sophomore middle blocker Hannah Watkins from Greenwood is coming off a big season. She was named Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year and ranked sixth nationally in total blocks.