Conway, Ark. - Led by junior Carli Kolbe and freshman Haley Neisler, Sam Houston State came close to ending Central Arkansas 23-match Southland Conference volleyball winning streak Thursday night.
But, down two sets to one, the Bears came roaring back to edge the Bearkats in a thriller 26-28 25-17 22-25 25-23 15-10.
The 2010 season marks the first year UCA will be eligible for post-season play after a four-year probation period as the Bears moved up to the NCAA Division I level. Central Arkansas could not advance to the Southland or NCAA tournaments last year despite their perfect league record.
The Sugar Bears won their last six league matches of 2008, went 16-0 in 2009, and have won their both their Southland matches this season to stretch the streak to 24 matches. The longest streak was set by Stephen F. Austin when they won 62 consecutive Southland matches from 2004 to 2007. UT Arlington had a streak of 58 from 1982-91.
Sam Houston drops to 6-10 for the year. The match was the Bearkats' first league contest.
Kolbe led SHSU with 19 kills while Neisler added 12. Kim Black had nine kills and seven blocks while Brittany Hoag totaled seven kills and Kelli Stewart added six. Kym Loving totaled 47 assists as the Bearkats' setter.
All-Southland Conference Chloe Smith led both teams with 22 kills in 45 attempts.
UCA held a 19-15 lead in the first set and held two set points at 24-22. But Sam Houston won six of the next eight points to take the opening frame. After taking a 2-1 lead, Central Arkansas never trailed in the second set.
The Bears led 21-19 in the third, but the Kats rallied again to win six of the next seven points as Hoag earned set point with a kill.
Central Arkansas took control in the fourth set and never trailed in the match again.
Following the match at Central Arkansas, the Kats will continue their first Southland road trip, traveling to Northwestern State on Saturday.
Sam Houston returns home to Johnson Coliseum on Thursday, Sept. 30, to play host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Sam Houston volleyball are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is 936 294-1729.
