FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Volley Hogs kick off the 2023 slate this weekend with home court advantage as Arkansas welcomes Michigan State and Tulsa for a pair of matches on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

It’s the third consecutive season in which the Hogs have started at home, and Arkansas has had great success at Barnhill Arena of late. The Razorbacks have gone at least .500 at home dating back to 2016 and had their best home record since 2012 with a 13-3 finish in Fayetteville in 2022.  

Arkansas checks in at No. 25 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll, the team’s first preseason ranking since 1999. It’s the same spot that the Hogs left off at in the final poll of the 2022 slate. The Hogs were also picked to finish fifth in the conference in the SEC preseason poll with graduate Jill Gillen and senior Taylor Head as preseason All-SEC selections.

Friday’s season opener is set for 7 p.m. and Sunday’s match will begin at 2 p.m. CT. Both will be streamed on SEC Network+. Arkansas will commemorate its first NCAA Tournament run in nine years with an updated banner in Barnhill Arena, which will be spotlighted before Friday’s match. Fans in attendance will also receive banner replica stickers.

Scouting the Series: Michigan State

• Just the second meeting between the Hogs and Spartans and Arkansas’ first match against a Big Ten team in four years
• Roster comprised of 55 percent underclassmen
• Went 13-18 in Leah Johnson’s first season at the helm last year

Stat Leaders – Michigan State (2022)

• Kills/set: Aliyah Moore, 2.82
• Assists/set: Zoe Nunez, 8.33
• Digs/set: Nalani Iosia, 4.03
• Blocks/set: Emma Monks, 1.04

Scouting the Series: Tulsa

• Tulsa is led by former Arkansas assistant Lauren Ramatowski and will make her head coaching debut at Barnhill Arena
• 10th meeting between the Hogs and Hurricane
• Have not faced off in Fayetteville since 2012

Stat Leaders – Tulsa (2022)

• Kills/set: Kayley Cassaday, 4.49
• Assists/set: Avery Kalsu, 5.65
• Digs/set: Marta Pecalli, 4.90
• Blocks/set: Rachel Brown, 0.72

Stat Leaders –Arkansas (2022)

• Kills/set: Taylor Head, 3.61
• Assists/set: Hannah Hogue, 5.66
• Digs/set: Courtney Jackson, 3.45
• Blocks/set: Tatum Shipes, 1.44