NCAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Collins sets up for a big finish

Central Arkansas senior setter Marissa Collins and the Sugar Bears face Purdue in the NCAA Tournament today at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.
Central Arkansas senior setter Marissa Collins and the Sugar Bears face Purdue in the NCAA Tournament today at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.

Marissa Collins knew Central Arkansas wasn’t done, trailing 2-0 against Northwestern (La.) State in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game.

Not with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line.

“We started our season with a bigger and better mission to get to the postseason and not end our career at the conference tournament,” the senior setter said. “There was a lot on the line, and we came out ready to win.”

“We looked at each other and said, ‘This is not UCA volleyball,’ ” senior middle blocker Jessica Nagy said.

The Sugar Bears rallied behind Collins and Nagy, beating the Demons in five games to earn their second consecutive Southland title and NCAA Tournament berth.

UCA (29-3) will play Purdue (20-11) at 4:30 p.m. Central today at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. The winner faces host Missouri (34-0) or Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis (19-13) on Saturday. Missouri is one of the top four seeds in this year’s tournament along with Texas, Penn State and Washington.

The Sugar Bears, who only moved up to Division I in 2006 and became eligible in 2010, are hoping for a better outcome today after being swept 3-0 at Washington last year in the first round.

Collins, this year’s Southland player and setter of the year, said her team didn’t know what to expect going into the tournament last season.

“We went into it blindsided,” Collins said. “This year, I feel like we have a better idea so we’ve prepared a little harder to be at the top of our game. We’re real excited to see where it goes.”

UCA finished 18-0 in the Southland, becoming the first team to go undefeated in league play in 33 years. UCA also has nonconference victories against Kansas and Florida Gulf Coast. The Sugar Bears’ only losses have been against Arizona, Marquette and Penn State, and their latest RPI is at a program-high No. 45.

“We feel like we can compete with all of these big teams,” Collins said. “We hope to see some of them again.”

Collins was a backup setter at Pearland (Texas) High School and on her club team, Absolute Volleyball of Texas, before coming to UCA. She has turned into one of the best setters in the nation since her arrival in Conway, ranking sixth in the nation in assists per set with 12.02.

“She has been incredible to coach,” UCA Coach David McFatrich said of Collins, who was the 2010 Southland Freshman of the Year as well as a four-time All-Southland player. “I’m going to sorely miss her. Everything we’ve asked of her, she’s done it.”

Collins will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. She plans on getting an internship, but if that falls through, she will go to graduate school at UCA and likely be a graduate assistant on McFatrich’s staff.

“I feel like all four years have been a blessing,” Collins said. “I’ve gotten amazing coaches and players. My teammates are like my sisters. I know that sounds cliche, but we really are the closest-knit group. We’ve had four successful years. I’ve been fortunate to have a great career at UCA.”

McFatrich said his team is excited about getting another opportunity in the NCAA Tournament.

“Our players knew we didn’t give them our best shot,” McFatrich said of last year’s match at Washington. “This year, I really think as a team we’re driven to win this first-round game for the University of Central Arkansas. We’ve only been eligible for four years, and we’ve gone twice.

“We want to win this first game really bad. It would really be a feather in the cap for UCA.”

Today’s game CENTRAL ARKANSAS VS. PURDUE

WHAT Columbia (Mo.) Regional WHEN 4:30 p.m. Central WHERE Hearnes Center, Columbia, Mo.

RECORDS UCA 29-3; Purdue 20-11

NOTEWORTHY Central Arkansas is making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. … The Sugar Bears lost at Washington last year in the first round. … Stephen F. Austin was the last Southland Conference school to win an NCAA Tournament match, defeating Alabama in 2006.

NCAA Tournament glance

THURSDAY’S GAMES Florida State 3, Georgia Southern 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) Texas A&M 3, Texas-San Antonio 0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-18) Jacksonville vs. Florida, (n) Alabama vs. Oklahoma, (n) Cal State-Northridge vs. Colorado St., (n) Texas State vs. Texas, (n) Hampton vs. Stanford, (n) New Hampshire vs. Southern Cal, (n)

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central Arkansas vs. Creighton, 4 p.m.

Ohio vs. Michigan State, 4 p.m.

Yale vs. Utah, 4 p.m.

Central Arkansas vs. Purdue, 4:30 p.m.

American vs. Georgia, 4:30 p.m.

Louisville vs. Marquette, 4:30 p.m.

Colorado vs. Iowa State, 4:30 p.m.

Miami vs. Oregon, 4:30 p.m.

California vs. North Carolina, 5 p.m.

IUPUI vs. Missouri, 6:30 p.m.

Charleston vs. Duke, 6:30 p.m.

LIU-Brooklyn vs. Penn State, 6:30 p.m.

Duquesne vs. Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.

Wichita State vs. Kansas, 6:30 p.m.

Radford vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

New Mexico State vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.

Fairfield vs. Nebraska, 7 p.m.

LSU vs. Michigan, 7 p.m.

Morehead State vs. Illinois, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m.

Alabama State vs. Washington, 9 p.m.

Arizona State vs. Brigham Young, 9 p.m. UC Santa Barbara vs. San Diego, 9:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 17 on 12/06/2013

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