WEST POINT, N.Y. – The University of Arkansas volleyball team beat the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Sunday morning in three sets (25-16, 25-14, 25-12) to wrap up an undefeated weekend and win the West Point Challenge at the Gillis Field House in New York. Kelli Stipanovich finished the day with a match-high 12 kills and completed a double-double performance with 15 digs. Roslandy Acosta and Jasmine Norton added nine and seven kills, respectively.
“We had a very good match Sunday,” head coach Robert Pulliza said. “We’ve had a long weekend of travel so I’m proud of the way our players came out and played the way they did with tremendous effort and focus. It was a great way to close it out and win our second tournament of the year.”
For her efforts during the weekend, Stipanovich was named the Most Valuable Player of the West Point Challenge. During Arkansas’ three-match run, the Razorback senior averaged 3.80 kills per set, posted a .308 hitting percentage and had two double-doubles. It marks the second MVP honor of the season for Stipanovich who was also recognized following the Deacon Invitational. In the tournament opener, Stipanovich collected her 1,000th career kill.
Norton and Janeliss Torres-Lopez also garnered all-tournament honors at the West Point Challenge. Norton had 3.50 kills per set and totaled 35 kills, including 17 putaways in the weekend opener against Dartmouth. Torres-Lopez led the team during the weekend with a .444 hitting percentage. Out of the middle, she had 2.40 kills per set and 1.20 blocks per set.
Arkansas (8-3) fell behind early with NJIT (2-6) taking an 11-7 lead after a kill by Renata Pandolfo. The Razorbacks responded with a 9-1 run to take the lead and grab control of the first set. An attack error by the Highlanders gave Arkansas the 16-12 lead and forced an NJIT timeout. The Razorbacks used a balanced offensive attack to extend their lead. Norton gave the team set point and, on the next play, she teamed with Marci King for a tandem block to close out the set, 25-16.
Trailing by two early in game two, the Razorbacks reeled off eight points in a row with the help of three service aces by Christa Alvarez and two blocks at the net to take a 9-3 lead. Later in the set, Norton tallied three consecutive kills to build Arkansas’ lead to eight. An NJIT hitting error gave the Razorbacks’ a 10-point lead, 22-12. On set point, Stipanovich found the floor to clinch the set for Arkansas, 25-14.
“I really think we’re starting to come together as a team,” Stipanovich said. “Everyone has really been working hard and I think it’s finally starting to show on the court. We’re in a great place right now going into SEC play next weekend.”
With a two-set lead in hand, the Razorbacks took the lead for good in the third set with back-to-back kills by King which gave Arkansas a two-point, 7-5. NJIT won the next two points to tie it up but Arkansas won eight of the next 10 points to go ahead, 15-9. During that stretch, the team benefitted from five errors from the Highlanders. An ace by Brooke Fournier pushed the Razorback lead to double digits, 22-12.
Arkansas’ dominance at the net was on display the final three points of the match. Consecutive solo blocks by Stipanovich and Santos, respectively, brought the team to match point. Santos and King then combined for the final stuff of the day, sending the Razorbacks to the 25-12 set win. Arkansas finished the match with 14.0 team blocks and was paced by six total blocks apiece for Acosta and King.
Sunday’s match marked the end of the Razorbacks’ non-conference season. Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play next weekend with road matches at Alabama and Ole Miss. The team’s 8-3 record entering league play is the sixth best in program history.
“Our schedule certainly prepared us for SEC play,” Pulliza said. “That said, it’s all a blank slate and pre-conference means nothing. As we know, the SEC is one of the toughest conferences in the country. You just have to grind every match and find a way to win because you never know which one will get you in or keep you out (of the NCAA Tournament).”