ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball wrapped up opening weekend with a 2-2 record at the Bettye Wallace Classic.
The Lions fell in three sets to Augustana to start the day then battled back to defeat Henderson State in four sets after dropping set one.
UAFS will visit UA-Monticello on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before heading to Owensboro, Kentucky, next weekend.
Augustana 3, UAFS 0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-17)
The Lions burst out to an eight-point lead in set one only to see the Vikings come back to win the set. UAFS led 21-18 after a service error, but Augustana rattled off five straight points and seven of eight for the 1-0 lead.
Augustana then hit .290 and .368 in sets two and three, respectively.
Right-side Elza Jansone led the Lions with seven kills and a .350 attack percentage. Libero Abbey Jackson had 11 digs and defensive specialist Ella Shelby 10. Setter Mayli Whetter had 22 assists while middle Aspen Olson had five blocks.
UAFS 3, Henderson State 1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21)
UAFS rallied for a four-set victory over the Reddies behind a monster double-double of 41 assists and 33 digs by Whetter. The Lions finished with 111 digs for the match, with 20 from outside hitter Lydia Pitts and 18 from Jackson.
Pitts also recorded a double-double by adding a team-high 15 kills. Elsewhere on the frontline, Olson hit .321 with 12 kills and outside hitter Cody Jackson tallied 10.
After dropping the opening set, the Lions hit .225 and held the Reddies to .077 in set two. UAFS raced out to an 8-2 lead and held off a late Reddie rally to even the match at one set apiece.
The Lions continued that momentum into set three, scoring the first five points of the set. The Reddies got back within five later in the set, but the Lions closed it out by scoring six of seven points getting three kills from Olson.
Henderson State held a 17-16 lead in the fourth set before the Lions rattled off a 5-1 run with two kills apiece from Olson and Codi Jackson. Three Reddies errors then allowed the Lions to close out the match.
UAFS hit .185 for the match and had an 11-4 advantage in blocks.
