FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas volleyball coach Jason Watson is pleased with his team’s progress from the spring and during fall workouts, but the Razorbacks will start the season without one of their top offensive threats.
Senior outside hitter Pilar Victoria suffered a knee injury on the opening day of fall practice and underwent arthroscopic surgery. The 5-foot-11 All-Southeastern Conference selection won’t be available for this weekend, but Watson should have a better idea of when she will return by next week.
Victoria’s injury adds a different element of uncertainty in Watson’s first match as the Arkansas coach. He was hired in January, after Robert Pulliza resigned following eight seasons at Arkansas.
Watson, who spent the last eight seasons as coach at Arizona State, understands even though he was hired in January and got to know the players in the spring, there’s still uncertainty heading into the season especially for the seven seniors.
“New staff, senior year, how’s this gonna work?,” Watson said. “There’s been some questions of course, like what is the guy talking about? There still is because we haven’t played yet.”
Watson even acknowledged the relationship component between players and coaches could be considered a weakness right now.
“As we hit the ground running, we’re still figuring out how each of us are going to work together,” Watson said. “That’s a big concern for me right now.”
But the seven seniors should also be a strength for the Razorbacks, who have made the NCAA tournament just twice in the last eight seasons, Watson said.
“We’ve got this nice core that is motivated to end their careers better than they started,” Watson said.
Senior Barbara Dapic ackowledged adapting to the new coach was challenging at times, but it’s been positive for her.
“It’s just more relaxed,” Dapic said. “We don’t mind going to practice, even going longer. Some technical stuff changed, which was hard. We are thinking ‘We know how to pass, why are you telling me to pass differently?’, but new coaches have new techniques.
“We bought into it. I think the main thing is we are more relaxed and we enjoy the game.”
The 6-3 Dapic will start on the right side when the Razorbacks take on No. 14 Illinois on their home floor on Friday in the season opener. She will be joined by seniors Danielle Harbin and Savannah Voelzke on the left side and seniors Breana Jones and Ana Sofia Jusino in the middle. Freshman setter Rachel Rippee will be at the controls of the 5-1 offense, while Okiana Valle, who was named to All-SEC freshman team a year ago, will start at libero.
The Razorbacks will take on Xavier and Missouri State on Saturday to complete the opening weekend. Arkansas will play its first three weekends on the road before its home opener on Sept. 16 against Southern Mississippi at noon.
Watson said the battle for the starting setter spot has been a good one in the preseason. Junior Kori Ortiz also gave Valle a good run for the libero spot, Watson said.
Senior setter Adrien Wohlschlaeger, who played in 102 of 114 sets last season, and junior Bailey Hankerson both had strong preseason camps, Watson said.
Watson has even toyed with the idea of playing a 6-2 and hasn’t totally ruled it out, but likes the 5-1 right now for better passing and floor defense.
Arkansas Razorbacks volleyball schedule
Date Opponent Time
Aug.26 at Illinois 7 p.m.
Aug. 27 vs. Missouri State at Illinois 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 vs. Xavier at Illinois 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 vs. Maryland at Kansas 10 a.m.
Sept. 2 vs. Chicago State at Kansas 5 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Kansas 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 at New Mexico 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 vs. Nebraska at N.M 6 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Southern Mississippi noon
Sept. 16 vs. Kansas State 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 vs. Missouri-Kansas City noon
Sept. 20 at Oral Roberst 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at LSU* 1 p.m.
Sept. 30 Missouri* 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Ole Miss* 5 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Texas A&M* 8 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Missouri* 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Kentucky* 6 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Tennessee* 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 vs. Alabama* 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 vs. Auburn* 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 vs. Mississippi State 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. Georgia* 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Alabama* 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Kentucky* 7 p.m.
Nov. 13 vs. Tennessee* 3 p.m.
Nov. 18 at Georgia* 6 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Mississippi State* 3 p.m.
Nov. 23 at South Carolina* 6 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. Florida* 1 p.m.
*denotes Southeastern Conference matches