SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – It required a come-from-behind battle, but the No. 19 Razorback volleyball team started its season 1-0 as the Hog took down St. Mary’s 3-2 on Friday evening in California.

Transfer outside hitter Romani Thurman had a stellar Razorback debut that featured a double-double with 19 kills and 12 digs, both career highs. She also hit .341 on the day and registered three blocks. Fellow Arkansan Jada Lawson also had a great day with 16 kills, including match point, and four blocks.

Senior setter Hannah Hogue had 50 assists and a match-high 25 digs for her second career 20-20 at Arkansas.

In addition to Thurman, outside hitter Olivia Ruy and defensive specialist Ava Roth also made their Razorback debuts Friday night. Ruy had nine kills while Roth tallied 11 digs, both good for fourth-highest in the match.

Set 1

The Hogs scored six of the first seven points in the match to grab a lead that they’d hold on to for the remainder of the set. St. Mary’s went on a 5-1 run that put them within two, but Arkansas was the first to 10 and quickly went up by eight at the media timeout, 15-7. St. Mary’s used a 4-0 run that included two aces and came within two at 17-15, but Arkansas kept the pressure on and extended the advantage to 22-16 off an ace from Courtney Jackson. The Gaels couldn’t get much going out a timeout and a service error ultimately handed the set to Arkansas, 25-18.

Set 2

Momentum quickly swung in St. Mary’s favor at the start of the second set as they went on an early 7-0 run that had three straight service aces. Arkansas had trouble stringing together more than a couple of points at a time, and the Razorbacks found themselves down 15-8 at the media timeout. They managed to come within three, but the Gaels answered right back with three straight points. Arkansas called time, which did spur a nice run, but St. Mary’s stayed sharp and pushed through for the 25-19 set victory.

Set 3

The third set was closer with eight ties early on, but by the midway point the Gaels found a groove and went up 18-14, which prompted an Arkansas timeout. The Hogs stayed close from there and used a 5-1 run to tie it at 22-all, and then again at 23. The comeback attempt fell short and Arkansas ran out of time as St. Mary’s got the final two points and took the set 25-23 and the match lead.

Set 4

Arkansas had a stronger start in the fourth frame and while St. Mary’s did tie it at 10 apiece, the Hogs had a four-point cushion at 15-11 heading into the media timeout. Thurman bookended a three-point run with two kills, though, and pushed the Razorback lead to 18-11. The Gaels regrouped with a timeout, but they only tacked on one more point to four by Arkansas, which forced another huddle for St. Mary’s with Arkansas up 22-12. The Gaels added three more, but the Hogs reached set point off a kill from Ruy. St. Mary’s spoiled it once, but a Lawson kill finished the set 25-16 and forced a fifth.

Set 5

There were three ties early in the deciding set, but Arkansas broke through with a 4-1 run including kills from Lawson and Thurman for an 8-5 lead as the teams switched sides. The Hogs were the first to 10, but the Gaels wouldn’t go quietly as they used a kill and an Arkansas attack error to tie it at 11-all. The Hogs huddled, but it stayed tight from there with ties at 12-12 and 13-13. A St. Mary’s attack error sent it to match point for Arkansas. The Gaels called time in a last attempt to spur a comeback, but Lawson put down the final kill for a 15-13 set victory and match win.

Up Next

The Hogs play two in the Mustang Invitational on Saturday, with Sacramento State first up at 2:30 p.m. CT and host Cal Poly in Arkansas’ final match of the tournament at 9 p.m. The afternoon match will not be streamed, but the nightcap with the Mustangs will be featured on ESPN+.