Georgia Defeats Razorbacks in Four, 3-1

Wednesday, October 25

Athens, Ga.

7:00 PM

University of Georgia

15-8, 5-5SEC

Arkansas

15-7, 5-5SEC

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Arkansas	22	20	25	21	1
Georgia	25	25	17	25	3

Photo by: Caitlyn Tam

October 25, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia volleyball posted its third consecutive conference victory on Wednesday evening at Stegeman Coliseum, defeating Arkansas in four sets, 25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 25-21.

"Arkansas is a great team," head coach Tom Black said. " They're extremely well coached, and they have a big-time player, [Pilar Victoria], on the left. We were really getting pushed, so to respond to such a high quality team, it means a lot. It shows that we're growing."

The trio of wins marks the first time Georgia (15-8, 5-5) has consecutively topped three Southeastern Conference teams since 2013.

Freshman outside hitter Rachel Ritchie headlined the Georgia attackers with 18 kills and a .429 hitting percentage, recording her sixth match in the last seven contests with 15 or more kills. Her .429 hitting clip was the highest in conference play for the freshman from San Juan Capistrano native. Fellow freshman outside hitter T'ara Ceasar followed with 17 of her own kills. She added four service aces and 10 digs for her sixth double-double on the year.

Georgia jumped to a 2-0 lead from a Ritchie kill and a Cassidy Anderson service ace, and did not allow the Razorbacks (15-7, 5-5) the advantage for the remainder of the set. A pair of three-point surges, featuring kills from Ritchie, Ceasar and junior middle blocker Majesti Bass allowed Georgia the 25-22 victory in the opening frame.

Trailing 10-6 in the second set, Georgia came back with a six-point run, including a Ceasar kill, set up by Meghan Donovan, to knot the match at 12. A pair of Arkansas errors handed Georgia the 14-12 lead, and the Bulldogs battled through back-and-forth action to cap the set at 25-20 with a Sydney Gilliam service ace.

After dropping the third frame, the fourth set featured Georgia behind the service line, as the Bulldogs, who are ranked first in the conference in aces per game, used five aces in the final set. Paired with six Ritchie kills, the offensive ambush overtook the Razorback defense, 25-21.

Six different Bulldogs recorded service aces in the match. The squad's 11 aces on the Razorbacks are the team-best in SEC play this season, topping the previous season-high of eight at Missouri last Friday.

The Bulldogs return to action on Sunday at Stegeman Coliseum at 1:30 p.m. on SECN+ against Missouri.