NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two Commodores hit over .500 as the Vanderbilt volleyball team earned the reinstated program’s first SEC victory in a dominating sweep (25-17, 25-18, 25-18) over Arkansas at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday.
Vandy (5-8, 1-3 SEC) had a .284 hitting efficiency in the win, powered by Isabella Bareford’s 33 assists. A trio of Dores, including Kamryn Chaney, Jackie Moore and Mia Soerensen posted nine kills. Moore and Soerensen recorded hitting percentages of .500 and .533, respectively, which are season highs for both student-athletes. The Commodores tallied a season-best 11 service aces, led by Chaney with four.
Moore and Soerensen also led Vanderbilt’s blocking efforts with four each. Kayla Dunlap and Chaney were each credited with three blocks. Making her first appearance of the season at libero, Elli Kinney recorded a team-high 16 digs. Reese Animashaun also had a double-digit dig performance with 13 to help hold the Razorbacks to a hitting percentage of just .134.
Kiki Remensperger led Arkansas (5-10, 1-3 SEC) offensively with 17 assists, while also pacing the Razorbacks’ defensive efforts with a team-leading 11 digs. Lakin Laurendine recorded a team-high 11 kills. At the net, Romani Thurman posted five blocks, and Zoi Evans registered four blocks.
The Commodores charged out to an early 10-3 lead in the opening set. Fourteen digs from the Dores held the Razorbacks to a .077 hitting efficiency. Vanderbilt scored four consecutive points, winning a challenge on the final point, to end the set, 25-17, Vandy.
In set 2, Vandy registered its highest hitting percentage of the afternoon, .417, and outblocked Arkansas 3-0. The Dores won the set they never trailed 25-18.
The Razorbacks kept the score close at the start of the final set, but Vanderbilt pulled away after point 15 to win the set 25-18 and record the reintroduced program’s first SEC victory.
Vanderbilt volleyball is back on the road, visiting Auburn and Florida Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at noon CT. Both matches are streamed on SEC Network+.
