No. 1 UALR Sweeps Its Way Sun Belt Championship

SAN MARCOS, Texas- No. 1 UALR claimed its first Sun Belt Championship since 2000 by sweeping No. 2 Texas State 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-12) in the finals of the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament at Strahan Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Texas State started the game on a 4-1 run as Freshman Jordan Kohl recorded two kills, but Edina Begic recorded two straight kills as UALR scored three straight to tie up the score. The Bobcats added two more points as Kohl recorded another kill, but Begic started a 7-1 Trojan run which included two kills from Adisa Hodzic. After two Bobcat points, UALR rattled off five straight as Sonja Milanovic hammered home two kills. Texas State fought back and scored six of the next eight points including three Kohl kills which prompted a UALR timeout with the score 18-15. UALR was able to stop the Bobcat momentum as they outscored Texas State 7-3 after the break to close out the set. Milanovic recorded her fifth and sixth kills of the set to end the frame, 25-18.

UALR started the second set scoring four of the first five, but Texas State countered with their own 4-1 run as Shelby Vas Matt struck two kills from the left side. The Trojans again scored four of five to take a nine six lead, but Vas Matt recorded another kill as the Bobcats scored two straight to get within one. The Trojans maintained the lead until a Kohl kill tied the score at 11. Texas State took a one point lead, but UALR scored four straight as Begic recorded three kills. UALR was able to maintain a small lead for the remainder of the set, eventually winning 25-20. Begic recorded seven second set kills while Megan Mathis notched 16 assists.

With Texas State leading 2-1 early in the third set, Begic started a 6-0 run for UALR as she recorded two kills before Carolee Dillard claimed three straight blocks. UALR would never surrender that lead which grew to 14 when Begic smashed home her 21st and final kill of the night to make it 24-10. The game would end three plays later as Milanovic stroked a ball down the left sideline to give UALR the championship.

The Trojans extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 24 matches as Begic, the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player, finished with 21 kills and eight digs on a .415 hitting percentage. UALR did not drop a set in the entire three day tournament. They defeated South Alabama 3-0 on day one before a record tying first set score of 25-6 propelled them to a victory over No. 4 UT Arlington in the semifinals.

This is the first Sun Belt Championship for UALR since 2000 and the fifth tournament title in Trojan history. The team claimed their third regular season title in school history after completing the regular season with a perfect 20-0 record.

Milanovic and Mathis were named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team after great performances in the championship match. Milanovic finished with 17 kills and a .394 hitting percentage to go along with seven digs. Mathis paced the Trojan attack with 42 assists and six digs. Capri Rino added a team-high 14 digs.

Texas State’s duo of Caylin Mahoney and Jordan Kohl also earned All-Tournament honors. Kohl led the Bobcats with eight kills while Mahoney tallied 21 assists in the finale. Vas Matt recorded 12 digs while Sierra Smith tallied 11.

UALR will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the Sun Belt Conference’s automatic qualifier. The NCAA Selection Show will take place at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU where UALR will find out their opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

2014 Sun Belt Conference Most Outstanding Player
Edina Begic, UALR (Senior, Outside Hitter)

2014 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team
Sonja Milanovic, UALR (Junior, Outside Hitter)
Megan Mathis, UALR (Sophomore, Setter)
Caylin Mahoney, Texas State (Junior, Setter)
Jordan Kohl, Texas State (Freshman, Right Side Hitter)
Markie Schaedig, Arkansas State (Sophomore, Libero)
Taylor Gross, UT Arlington (Senior, Outside Hitter)