The Trojan volleyball team lost two matches over the weekend, extending their losing streak to 11 games, while junior libero Ali Dowdall received her second Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week award.
Troy played Sun Belt Conference leader UALR in a Trojan versus Trojan match in the Trojan Arena on Friday, Oct. 17.
UALR took the first set 25-20 and Troy responded by winning the second set 25-22 to tie the match 1-1 at halftime.
Troy came out of the half and got off to a 7-4 lead in the third set. UALR then went on a five point rally and took a 9-7 lead.
After a back and forth battle, UALR took a 21-16 lead. Troy battled back to a 22-19 score but would eventually fall in the third set, 25-19.
The fourth set was a lengthy match that featured 19 ties and 13 lead changes. UALR started with a 7-1 lead, but Troy came back and got on a five-point rally and eventually took the lead 10-9.
The match remained tight until the end and Troy had a match point with the score 25-24. UALR was able to win two points and create a match point of their own at 26-25.
Troy won that point and went on to have three more match points, but UALR would get a three-point rally and win the set 31-29, and the match 3-1.
“We battled,” said head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick. “We competed and again I think we are really close.”
Sophomore outside hitter Symone Shaw led the team with 14 kills and junior setter Tineille Waggoner had 47 assists. Dowdall had 29 digs while senior outside hitter Marija Zelenovic had a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs.
Troy then faced UT Arlington on Sunday, Oct. 19. The Trojans recently lost to the Mavericks in Arlington, Texas, in a close five set match.
This match started with the Mavericks taking a close first set 25-23. The second set lasted 72 points and had 20 tied scores and eight lead changes.
The Trojans eventually outlasted the Mavericks and won the set 37-35 and went into halftime tied at 1-1.
The teams played two more close sets but the Mavericks took both the third and fourth sets 25-23 and took the match 3-1.
Zelenovic led the Trojans with another double-double of 17 digs and 24 kills, which is a career high in kills for Zelenovic.
Waggoner had 33 assists while Dowdall had 33 digs. Junior middle hitter Darby Griff had two solo blocks and five assisted blocks.
“We’ve been playing well as of late,” Kirpatrick said. “We just have to keep battling and find a way to win.”
The Trojans will host Georgia State in Trojan Arena on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.
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