Hogs’ Comeback Falls Short in Five-Set Heartbreaker with Tulsa
Despite rallying back from a 2-0 deficit, the No. 22 Razorbacks ran out of steam on Thursday night as they fell 3-2 to Tulsa, their first loss of the season.
Senior setter Hannah Hogue did all she could for Arkansas in the match with 42 assists and 23 digs, her second 20-20 of the season and the 34th in program history. She also had a career high six kills, an ace and one block.
Senior libero Courtney Jackson broke the program single match dig record with a whopping 40, 11 more than her previous career high, and added 11 assists for a double-double, the second of the season and in her career.
Sophomore outside hitter Romani Thurman contributed heavily on offense for Arkansas with 24 kills, a new personal best, and hit .316 on the night.
Set 1
The Hogs just couldn’t find a rhythm for most of the opening set and while there were six ties early, the Hurricane took a 12-9 lead with a three-point run. Arkansas stayed on Tulsa’s heels and tied it at 14- and 15-all, but the home team just kept pushing and found a lead at 21-18 that they’d hold for the remainder of the set. The Razorbacks got to 20 off a Tulsa attack error and did spoil set point once, but a final kill for the Hurricane closed it 25-21.
Set 2
The second set was close to start, but the Hogs found themselves playing from behind after a four-point Tulsa run made It 14-11 in favor of the Hurricane. Arkansas fought back and came within one, but another three-point streak by the Hurricane made it 21-17 Tulsa and sent the Razorbacks to a timeout. It was no use as the Hurricane continued their run to 6-0 and got to set point. A kill from Hogue staved it off, but an Arkansas service error handed the set to Tulsa 25-18.
Set 3
In danger of getting swept for the first time since November 2023, the Hogs began to settle in in the third set and used a four-point run with two kills from Madkin and one each from Hogue and Zoi Evans for a 9-7 lead. The Hurricane threatened and tied it up, but Arkansas strung together a 5-1 run that put the Razorbacks up 15-11 at the media break. The Hogs only allowed one Tulsa point at a time from there and an error for the Hurricane made it 18-12 Arkansas and prompted a Tulsa timeout. The Razorbacks maintained their pace and pushed it to 22-15 off two Tulsa errors. The Hurricane got two back, but the Hogs ended it on a three-point run for a 25-17 set victory and stayed alive.
Set 4
After a close start to the fourth, Arkansas went on a 6-1 run capped off by back-to-back Thurman kills for an 11-7 advantage. Tulsa huddled, but the Hogs got two more to extend the lead to 13-7. The Hurricane refused to go quietly and came within two at 14-12, but the Hogs kept them at bay with a service error and kill from Evans that made it 19-15 Arkansas. The Hurricane just didn’t let up and came close at 21-19, and Arkansas called time. The Hogs got to set point after kills from Evans and Thurman, and while Tulsa added two, an attack error pushed it to 25-22 Razorbacks and forced a fifth set.
Set 5
The deciding set started out rough for the Hogs as they were playing from behind at 4-0. Arkansas cut the deficit to one, but a service error and Tulsa service ace quickly made it 7-4 for the home team and sent the Razorbacks to a timeout. The Hurricane just kept pushing and added three more points for a commanding 10-4 lead. The Hogs just couldn’t catch up and only added four more points before a final kill made it 15-8 Tulsa and secured the Hurricane victory.
Up Next
Arkansas plays Stephen F. Austin for the Hogs’ second and final match of the Tulsa Volleyball Invitational on Friday at 4 p.m. The contest will not be streamed, but live stats will be available via StatBroadcast.
More Information
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