Oct. 21, 2006
Box Score
CONWAY, Ark. - Junior middle blocker Ellen Murray led the UT Arlington charge with nine kills and nine total blocks as the Mavs continued their tour through the East Division with a 30-18, 30-27, 30-28 victory over Southland Conference newcomer Central Arkansas Saturday afternoon at the Prince Center. The loss was the first suffered at home for the Sugar Bears.
UTA (19-6, 8-1 SLC) got off to its second straight quick start as the Mavs got kills from Dani Johnson and Ellen Murray and blocks from Murray, Emily Nedderman and Teena Sobczak to race to a 7-2 advantage. After a timeout, the Sugar Bears pulled to with three points, but the Mavs quickly pushed the lead to double digits on a pair of solo blocks from Murray and kills from Torie Dacus, Johnson and Murray. UTA took advantage of 14 UCA hitting errors to never let the game get closer and finish of the first game.
The beginning of the second game was marred by five early service errors that helped UTA surge ahead 9-5. UTA would seize control of the match over the next few minutes and pushed its way to an 18-10 advantage. The Sugar Bears (13-14, 3-6 SLC) turned the game completely around with an 11-3 run of their own to tie the score. Coming out of a Mavericks timeout, UTA got two straight blocks from Sobczak and Gina Kalb to earn a three-point cushion. UCA would get within one point before a pair of Dacus kills ended the game.
UCA took control of the early portions of game three as they got their first lead of the match and staked to an early 7-4 lead. The lead was short lived as the Mavs scored six of the next eight points to take their first lead of the game. After the lead grew to four, UCA called a timeout and went on a 9-3 run to open up a 19-17 lead.
The Mavericks were used to this situation and remained calm and took the led for good at 24-23 on a Dacus kill. A kill by Sobczak and two Sugar Bears errors helped the lead grow to three before UTA held one-point lead at match point. Johnson would end the game with a kill after an overpass.
Sobczak and Dacus each recorded 11 kills and Murray added nine. Smith led the team in digs with 19 and was followed by Johnson with 15, Sobczak 12 and Dacus 11. Murray had seven of the team's 22 block assists. Sobczak chipped in five and Kalb four. Amicha Williams led UCA with 13 kills and 17 digs.
The Mavs return to action Oct. 24 as they travel to take on Southland Conference rival Texas State. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Strahan Coliseum.
