- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/trojan-athletics/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:10:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Lee to Lead ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletic Department /news-archive/2019/10/11/george-lee-athletic-director/ Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:10:09 +0000 /news/?p=75408 ...]]> Lee, who joined the Athletics Department 23 years ago as business manager, assumes the position Nov. 1. He replaces Chasse Conque, who left the university in August to become vice chancellor and AD at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “George Lee’s experience with our Trojan Athletics program, along with his thorough understanding of every aspect of NCAA Division I collegiate athletics, make him highly qualified for the position,” said Drale. “He is well respected by his colleagues and is dedicated to the success of our student athletes. This two-year appointment will give us the opportunity to review and strengthen our program under the leadership of someone who knows the program well, understands our mission, and has critical institutional insight.” Lee thanked Dr. Drale for the opportunity. “We have an outstanding program of coaches and staff who will help me continue to move ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletics forward,” he said. “Our student-athletes are talented not only in their respective sports but also in the classroom. Last year our athletes’ GPA average was one of the highest percentages in program history.” The new athletic director pointed out that this is the university’s inaugural year of men’s wrestling, and many fans are enthusiastic about starting the state’s only Division I wrestling program. Lee commended the members of the Trojan Athletic Foundation for their support and assistance in raising funds for the program and helping raise the profile of the Trojans. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without them and all of our fans and supporters over the years,” he said. “We will continue to lean on them and the community to back Little Rock’s Team and generate enthusiasm for the program.” Lee urged central Arkansans to come out to beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Jack Stephens Center. Men’s and women’s basketball coaches, players, and the Trojans Dance Team will be introduced during an evening of activities and refreshments. Season ticket holders can pick up their tickets and schedules for the 2019-20 season. A 1987 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, he is married to Joni Lee, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock vice chancellor of University Affairs. They have two children.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock appoints interim athletic director /news-archive/2019/08/08/interim-ad/ Thu, 08 Aug 2019 22:12:22 +0000 /news/?p=74861 ...]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson has appointed Bob Denman to serve as interim athletic director for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Athletics while a national search is conducted for a new director. Denman, vice chancellor emeritus of university advancement, previously served as interim athletic director from September 2014 until January 2015 when Conque was hired as the new athletic director. Conque is leaving later this month to be the athletic director at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.�� Denman joins the university Aug. 12.]]> Conque steps down as vice chancellor, director of athletics /news-archive/2019/08/02/conque-steps-down-as-vice-chancellor-director-of-athletics/ Fri, 02 Aug 2019 15:36:51 +0000 /news/?p=74839 ...]]> Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque today announced his resignation from Little Rock Athletics. Conque will depart Little Rock later this month to assume the role of vice president and director of athletics at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas. “Today is very bittersweet,” Conque said. “Over the past four and a half years, I have had the distinct opportunity to lead Little Rock Athletics and am very grateful to have witnessed some transformational years. Our competitive success and record-breaking academic achievements are just the tip of the iceberg.�� “I have been blessed with the hardest working staff in the country and some amazingly dedicated coaches that have all worked to enhance the Trojan student-athlete experience. The Little Rock Trojan brand is stronger today because of their tireless work. I simply cannot thank the campus community, central Arkansas and all our fans and supporters for what they have contributed these past several years.” Since being named the Trojans’ director of athletics in January 2015, Conque led a resurgence of Little Rock Athletics over the past four and a half years. Centering around the rebranding initiative of making the Trojans “Little Rocks Team,” the department has experienced success both on and off the playing surfaces.�� During Conque’s tenure, Little Rock has won a combined 19 team and individual Sun Belt Conference championships with Trojan athletic programs combining for six NCAA tournament appearances. Both Little Rock’s men and women’s basketball teams have advanced to the round of 32 during his time while soccer and track and field have each represented the Trojans on college athletics’ biggest stage. Promoted to vice chancellor and director of athletics in 2017, Conque has placed a major emphasis on success in the classroom as Little Rock has maintained its position as a leader among both the Sun Belt Conference and its peers in the state of Arkansas. The department set an impressive new record following the fall 2018 semester as the department’s cumulative GPA for all 15 programs was a 3.36 with 124 Trojan student-athletes recorded a 3.0 GPA or higher. The department currently boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.34�� For six of the last seven years, Little Rock has posted the highest Graduation Success Rate of any NCAA Division I institution in the state of Arkansas, graduating 82 percent of Trojan student-athletes. Six Trojan athletic programs were recognized by their respective national organizations for academic excellence this past season.�� Understanding the necessity of remaining competitive in Division I Athletics, Conque has been active in helping the department reach new heights. Since taking over as AD, the department’s budget has grown considerably, mainly through increased revenues and giving. After a record-breaking fundraising year in 2017-18 which saw the department raise a record $4.3 million, the department followed that up with just over $3 million in 2018-19 to bring its total to over $11 million over the past three years. Conque helped Little Rock make national headlines in the spring of 2018, announcing the addition of Division I wrestling, the first program in the state of Arkansas, which begins competition this fall as a member of the Pac 12 Conference. Additionally, he has spearheaded a number of facility renovation projects, all with the goal to enhance the student-athlete experience. “Lisa and I are grateful for the many friendships we have made and will forever pull for Little Rock’s Team,” Conque said. “With that said, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to lead University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Athletics. UTRGV President Guy Bailey is building something special in the Rio Grande Valley, and I look forward to working with him and his leadership team to elevate Vaquero Athletics.” A nationwide search for Little Rock’s new director of athletics will commence in the coming weeks.]]> Olympian Alan Webb joins ��Vlog��ý Little Rock coaching staff /news-archive/2019/08/01/olympian-alan-webb-coaching-staff/ Thu, 01 Aug 2019 19:56:49 +0000 /news/?p=74835 ...]]> , has joined the University of Arkansas at Little Rock staff as an associate head cross country and assistant track coach going into the 2019-20 season. Webb will coach the cross country and distance athletes at Little Rock. “I am excited to welcome��and his family to Little Rock,” said��, Little Rock’s director of track and field/cross country and the program’s head coach. “Throughout the interview process, I was very impressed with Alan’s understanding of all the distance events beyond the mile and middle distance races. During his 11-year pro career, he worked with some of the greatest track coaches in the world. Our distance athletes will greatly benefit from the knowledge and passion Alan brings to the Trojan distance program.” Webb joins Little Rock’s Team after spending last season as an assistant coach at Portland State. “I am really excited to join the Little Rock Trojans,” Webb said. “Coach Behnke has already taken big steps forward to make Little Rock a rising star in the Sun Belt Conference. That is why, when I learned about this opportunity, I wanted to join him. I am humbled that he has chosen me to coach the cross country and distance athletes. All of the athletes on the roster and incoming freshman have tons of potential to improve, and I look forward to supporting them. This is going to be awesome. Thank you to the athletes at Portland State for their dedication to running and the coaching staff for supporting my growth as a coach.” At Portland State, Webb helped lead the Vikings to their best cross country season in program history in 2018. The Viking women tied their highest team finish ever at the Big Sky meet with a fifth-place finish, after being picked to finish in a tie for ninth. The Viking women followed it up with a 15th-place finish at the NCAA West Regional, their highest finish at the meet since they placed 11th in 2002. Two of Portland State’s runners – Sarah Medved and Kaila Gibson – became the first Viking teammates to place in the top 40 together at the NCAA West Regional, just under two weeks after they became the first Viking teammates to place in the top 10 together at the Big Sky Conference meet. The Vikings had never had two runners place in the top 50 of the NCAA West Regional before Medved and Gibson, let alone the top 40. Medved’s set school records in the 4k and 6k races. Webb brings a wealth of experience running at a world-class level to his role at Little Rock. He announced himself as a world-class athlete in high school, when he broke Jim Ryun’s 36-year old American high school record in the mile at the 2001 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Webb finished the mile in 3:53.43 to beat Ryun’s old record of 3:55.3 by nearly two full seconds. Additionally, Webb became the first American high schooler ever to crack four minutes in the indoor mile while breaking the national high school record with a time of 3:59.86 at the New Balance Games in 2001. Webb broke the American high school record in the indoor 1,500 meters in the same race, as he came through the 1,500 mark in 3:43.27. Webb ran collegiately for the University of Michigan during the 2001-02 season, winning the Big Ten cross country title while also winning the Big Ten title in the outdoor 1,500 meters. A two-time All-American while at Michigan, he placed 11th at the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championships and fourth in the 1,500 meters at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Turning pro after the 2002 collegiate season, Webb signed with Nike where he would stay until his retirement from professional running in 2014. He became an Olympian in 2004, when he won the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, California. Webb won the U.S. title in the 1,500 meters again in 2005, and went on to make the finals of the 1,500 meters at the World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, Finland, later that year. The 2007 season marked Webb’s best season professionally, as he won his third U.S. title in the 1,500 meters and placed eighth in the finals of the event at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. Webb broke the American record in the mile in the leadup to the World Championships at a meet in Brasschaat, Belgium on July 21, 2007. Webb set the record with his finish in 3:46.91, breaking a 25-year-old record that Steve Scott set at 3:47.69 in 1982. He also ran a lifetime best of 3:30.54 in the 1,500 meters – the fourth-fastest time ever by an American at the time – at the IAAF Golden League meet in Paris, France on July 6, 2007. Webb began his coaching career in 2003, when he was an assistant cross country coach at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia. He next served as a volunteer assistant for the University of Virginia cross country team in the fall of 2011, before serving in the same role for the Portland State in 2013. He coached as a cross country assistant for Westview High School in Portland in the fall of 2015 and started as a Nike volunteer/running coach at that same time. Webb was a guest run coach for the Every Athlete *2.0 Product Test Training Program earlier in 2018, as well as a guest coach for Nike’s Marathon Kids and the WHQ Sport Center Noon Track Group. Additionally, Webb was a guest coach/speaker for the Nike Run Club in August of 2015, and was a sports marketing volunteer at the Nike Elite Camp in May 2016. In addition to coaching, Webb has been a guest speaker at several camps and clinics. He delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Virginia High School Track Coaches Association in 2018. Webb also addressed the California University of Pennsylvania running camp in 2016, as well as the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cross country camp in 2014. Also in 2014, Webb presented during the distance running session of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic. Webb married the former Julia Rudd in October 2010. The couple has three daughters; Joanie, Paula, and Gabriella. The family resides in Little Rock.]]> Trojans announce 2019-20 men’s basketball Sun Belt schedule /news-archive/2019/07/31/mens-basketball-schedule/ Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:45:51 +0000 /news/?p=74820 ...]]> With the change to the 20-game format, the schedule required Sun Belt play to start prior to the Christmas break this season. The Trojans begin their conference schedule on the road at ULM on Dec. 19, followed by the yearly trip to Lafayette to take on Louisiana Dec. 21. Following the New Year, the Trojans open up the home portion of its schedule by playing three games in five days at the Jack. The busy week begins with Texas State on Thursday, Jan. 2, followed by UT Arlington two days later on Saturday, Jan. 4. The home stand concludes with Little Rock’s lone game of the year against Georgia Southern on Monday, Jan. 6. Little Rock then plays the first of its two split weekends the following week, beginning with a showdown at Troy on Jan. 9 before returning home to take on South Alabama at the Jack Saturday, Jan. 11. The Trojans head east to the Carolinas the following weekend, beginning at Coastal Carolina on Jan. 16 before heading north to Boone for the showdown with Appalachian State on Jan. 18. Another split weekend leads to a stretch where the Trojans will play four out of five at home, starting with the home tilt against Troy on Thursday, Jan. 23. After Little Rock travels to Mobile to face South Alabama on Jan. 25, the Trojans return home for three-straight, returning the games against the Carolina foes with Coastal Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 30, and Appalachian State on Saturday, Feb. 1. Little Rock will have a week off after the game against the Mountaineers before welcoming rival Arkansas State to the Jack for their yearly trip, facing the Red Wolves on Saturday, Feb. 8. A three-game road trip then awaits the Trojans, who start it in Texas the following weekend. First up is the trip to San Marcos to face Texas State on Feb. 13, leading into the trip to north Texas to face UT Arlington on Feb. 15. Little Rock then makes its yearly trek to northeast Arkansas, facing the rival Red Wolves in Jonesboro on February 22. The home stretch of the 2019-20 season begins with the final two games of the year at the Jack Stephens Center as Little Rock hosts ULM on Thursday, Feb. 27, before the home finale against Louisiana on Saturday, Feb. 29, in Little Rock’s yearly Homecoming game. The regular season finale will take place three days later as the Trojans head to Atlanta for a Tuesday night showdown with Georgia State on March 3. Little Rock then aims to qualify for the 2020 Sun Belt Conference championship, which will take on a slightly different format this season. The opening round will once again be a play-in game, with the number seven and eight seeds hosting the nine and 10 seeds on Saturday, March 7. From there, the tournament will progress through conference sites with the five and six seeds hosting the second round games on Monday, March 9, followed by the three and four seeds serving as hosts for the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 11. The winner of those two rounds will then join the numbers one and two seeds in New Orleans for the semifinal and championship rounds, being held Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, at Smoothie King Center. All home games will tip at 6:30 p.m. on weeknights at the Jack Stephens Center this season with Saturday tip times set for 2 p.m. The lone exception to that is the game against South Alabama on Jan. 11, which will get underway at 4:30 p.m. Season tickets for the 2019-20 Little Rock basketball schedule are currently on sale by contacting the Trojan ticket office at 501-565-8257. The non-conference portion of the Trojan basketball season will be announced in the coming weeks as contracts are finalized.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock extends baseball coach’s contract�� /news-archive/2019/07/24/baseball-contract/ Wed, 24 Jul 2019 16:33:29 +0000 /news/?p=74795 ...]]> Little Rock head baseball coach Chris Curry has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the Trojan dugout through the 2023 season. Curry recently completed his fifth season with the Trojan baseball program, posting 120 victories during his time in Little Rock. His teams have won 26 games or more in three of his five seasons, including the Trojans’ 29 victories in 2019, its most since the 2010 season. Chasse Conque, vice chancellor and director of athletics, announced the contract extension on July 24. “Coach Curry has done an outstanding job revitalizing our baseball program and taking our level of play to new heights,” Conque said. “During his time at Little Rock, his ball clubs have given us memorable moments on the field and numerous accolades, including record success in the classroom. We are fortunate to have Coach Curry and his staff leading our program and look forward to even more success in the coming years.” ��“I’m grateful to Chasse Conque and Chancellor Andrew Rogerson for believing in what we’re building here at Little Rock and their commitment to support our program long term,” Curry said. “The key to any successful organization is the caliber of people in it, and our coaches and players are the best. We’re very excited to be here in Little Rock and continue building a championship program.” ��During Curry’s tenure with the Trojans, Little Rock has posted six victories over top-25 opponents, including three in 2019. The Trojans toppled ninth-ranked Arkansas 17-7 in Fayetteville, followed by 8-5 and 14-0 victories over 24th-ranked Coastal Carolina two weeks later. ��The 2019 season was one of the most memorable in recent Trojan history as Little Rock finished third in the Sun Belt with an 18-11 conference mark, its most conference wins in program history. In addition to the wins over ranked foes, Little Rock held the unique distinction of going undefeated against fellow in-state schools, going 8-0 against the other four Natural State Division I programs. Curry was the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.�� One of Curry’s priorities has been advancing to postseason play, and Little Rock has qualified for the Sun Belt Conference tournament in each of the past four seasons.�� Under Curry’s tutelage, seven Trojans have earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors, and seven Trojans have been drafted by Major League Baseball programs. ��Curry’s success with the Trojans extends beyond the diamonds as Little Rock’s team academics have improved significantly since his hiring. Little Rock has been named the Sun Belt’s Academic Champions in both 2018 and 2019. ��Coming off 57 wins over the past two seasons, expectations are high for Curry and his team heading into the 2020 season. The Trojans will begin fall practices in October with the regular season schedule to be released later this fall.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock sets fundraising record, endowment tops $80 million /news-archive/2019/07/17/ua-little-rock-endowment/ Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:37:24 +0000 /news/?p=74756 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock raised $20 million in private gift support during the fiscal year that ended June 30, marking an 11% increase over the previous fiscal year. This also marked the largest fundraising year in the university’s history since receiving gifts for the Jack Stephens Center and the Windgate Center for Art and Design. More than 7,600 individuals, corporations, and private foundations gave 26,366 gifts between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. This is the third consecutive year of gift growth. New endowments totaled $2,774,937, bringing ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s total endowment to more than $80 million. ��“These gifts from our generous donors support efforts to maintain our distinction as a recognized research university while advancing the social and economic well-being of our students and the community,” said Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “Making college education affordable remains a top priority for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. With the help of private philanthropy, the university is able to make a college education more affordable and ensure this generation has access to a world-class education close to home.” One of the largest gifts this year includes a $754,000 gift from the Windgate Foundation supports the Windgate Center for Art and Design and its programs. “The fundraising success ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is experiencing is possible thanks to the generous donations of alumni, parents, foundations, friends, and businesses,” said Christian O’Neal, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Our donors are helping to grow our city, our campus, and giving students a world of opportunity. We are extremely grateful for their support in changing lives.”�� Trojan Athletics received more than $3 million this year. The Donaghey Foundation helped fund a $725,000 renovation of the Donaghey Athletic Center on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s campus. The project provided significant upgrades and much-needed enhancements that have allowed the athletic program to better serve and prepare student-athletes for success. This investment has also helped the athletic program with recruitment of student-athletes and with competition for championships. All 15 Division I Trojan athletic programs are benefitting from several legacy gifts totaling more than $1 million from donors. Some of the gifts were in the form of three naming rights throughout the Jack Stephens Center. The Lot 16 entrance on the northwest corner is named the Dr. Bob Young Entrance. The student-athlete entrance, located on the ground floor, is the Mary and Rick Edwards Family Entrance. The Athletic Administrative offices located on the third floor are named the Patricia and Mark L. Pollack Athletics Suite. Included in the suite is the Victor Jacuzzi Family Office of Director of Athletics.�� “The Little Rock Trojans continue to benefit from tremendous support from our community,” said Chasse Conque, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “This past year provided another strong fundraising campaign leading to nearly $7.5 million in support over the past two years which has directly enhanced our student-athlete experience. We are most grateful to our loyal supporters who continue to invest in Little Rock’s Team and our mission of graduating champions.” “Our development team is dedicated to changing lives through education,” added Holly Rose, executive director of development. “It is through their work with our generous donors that we can provide students a quality, affordable education, some of the best facilities and programs in the region, and teaching excellence.” Other noteworthy achievements in FY 2019:��

The university awarded $1.52 million in private scholarships, an all-time high. These scholarships helped students with tuition, books, and other school-related expenses. Some students who were near graduation but had particularly dire financial hardships received “Last Mile” funds to help them complete their degree.
The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association membership grew to a record 3,300 members�� and raised $113,452 in online gifts from 131 donors in one day. The popular Taste of Little Rock event also generated $141,000 in sponsorships, ticket sales, and in-kind and general donations.��
First-ever nationwide development efforts celebrated alumni in 21 cities across America. University events were held in Atlanta; Austin; Chicago; Dallas; and Hollywood.
$100,000 in private funding was awarded to 100 students for Signature Experience grants to pursue research and creative endeavor projects. This is the second year that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students could receive grants to work on faculty-mentored projects, allowing them to gain knowledge and skills to compete in a competitive work workforce after graduation.��
Forty-six percent of benefits-eligible employees donated through the annual faculty and staff giving campaign, demonstrating an investment in future students, faculty, and staff.

In the photo above right, a student discusses her breast cancer research with a group of students during the Research and Creative Works Expo. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock awarded $100,000 in research grants to 100 undergraduate students this year. The grants were made possible by private donations from university supporters.�� Photo by Benjamin Krain]]> Coach Walker to be featured in upcoming art event in Chicago /news-archive/2019/07/17/coach-walker-in-the-paint/ Wed, 17 Jul 2019 13:36:05 +0000 /news/?p=74736 ...]]> Off the court, University of Arkansas at Little Rock head men’s basketball coach Darrell Walker has a reputation for his love of art.�� The former NBA star is one of the most prolific African American art collectors in the country and will give a talk on his evolution as a collector on Saturday, July 20, at Loyola University. The event, “Darrell Walker: In the Paint,” will take place from 6-9 p.m. at the Edward Crown Center for the Humanities at Loyola University in Chicago. Moderating the discussion will be Tracie Hall, director of the Joyce Foundation’s Culture Program, while Dionne Miller, ABC 7 Chicago Sports anchor and reporter, will serve as the emcee. Walker and his wife Lisa collect art by modern and contemporary black artists, and their collection has been featured in exhibitions around the country. The couple has donated nine works to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s permanent collection and loaned additional works to be displayed at the university. Prior to the event, Walker will attend Pigment International’s art exhibition and sale, followed by a meet and greet with local high school and college art students. During the salon talk, Walker will also discuss how he helps build artist’s careers and the legacy he hopes to impart within the African American art world. More information about the event, hosted by Pigment International, can be. ]]> Trojans Unveil ‘We Are One’ Season Ticket Campaign /news-archive/2019/07/03/trojans-unveil-we-are-one-season-ticket-campaign/ Wed, 03 Jul 2019 13:15:39 +0000 /news/?p=74655 ...]]> The campaign builds off the familiar theme of “Our City. Our Team” which was utilized for the past two seasons to help promote the Trojans as Little Rock’s Team. The concept also helps encompass the vision to unite the city of Little Rock, with the Trojans helping serve as a valuable component in that idea. “Our primary focus continues to be creating a synergy between the capital city and our student-athletes that represent Little Rock’s Team,” said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque “‘We Are One’ further demonstrates the unity college athletics can bring to our community. We look forward to another exciting year of Trojan basketball and hope fans of all ages will join us in our quest to continue to compete for championships.” “We Are One” will soon have a prominent presence throughout the Little Rock metro area, including digital through Lamar Outdoor Advertising as well as radio and television commercials through local media outlets. Affordable price points continue to be available for season tickets at the Jack Stephens Center, and season ticket packages include all men’s and women’s home games. Upper Leather season tickets can be purchased for $350, and Lower Chairback seats are only $250 with each additional Lower Chairback costing $100. End Zone General Admission tickets for every home game are only $99. University of Arkansas Little Rock employees will receive a 30 percent discount on selected sections as university employees have the option of payroll deduction. Premium seating and other game day experience options remain available as we head into the 2019-20 season. The Junior Trojans Club will return for another season and remains priced at $50 per child with each additional child costing $40. Faculty and staff of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will receive a discounted rate of $35 for the Junior Trojans Club. Season tickets can be purchased by contacting the Trojan ticket office at 501-565-8257. Online purchases will be available in the coming weeks. Excitement is high heading into the 2019-20 season for the Little Rock Trojans. Head coach��‘s women’s team is coming off its 10th Sun Belt title and sixth NCAA tournament appearance, all of which have come since 2008. On the men’s side, head coach��is entering his second season and brings a mix of veteran players with talented newcomers. Schedules for both the Trojan men and women are still being finalized with the full schedules expected to be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to LRTrojans.com as well as the Little Rock social media outlets for all the latest information surrounding Trojan Athletics.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces 2019 volleyball schedule /news-archive/2019/07/01/2019-volleyball-schedule/ Mon, 01 Jul 2019 13:45:03 +0000 /news/?p=74642 ...]]> has announced Little Rock’s 2019 schedule, getting underway the final weekend in August. The slate includes 10 home matches at the Jack Stephens Center, as well as four challenging pre-conference tournaments. Little Rock’s 2019 season begins with a program first as the Trojans will head north to Fayetteville for the Arkansas Tournament Aug. 30-31. Little Rock will face Montana State on Friday morning, followed by the second all-time meeting against the Razorbacks that evening. The tournament concludes with a Saturday afternoon meeting with Northwestern State at Barnhill Arena. The second week of the season takes Little Rock to Tulsa, Oklahoma, competing in the Oral Roberts Tournament Sept. 6-7. The Trojans will once again play a pair of matches on Friday, facing Illinois State in the morning before an afternoon tilt against Air Force, before facing the host Golden Eagles Saturday morning. Little Rock stays close to home the third week of the season, making its yearly appearance in the UCA Tournament Sept. 13-14. The Trojans face Ole Miss, then take on Oral Roberts once again, Friday at the Farris Center in Conway. This year, however, the final match will switch to the Jack Stephens Center as the Trojans and Bears will meet Saturday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in the programs’ Governor’s I-40 Showdown match of 2019. The final non-conference tournament will be in Martin, Tennessee, with Little Rock competing in the UT Martin Tournament Sept. 20-21. Once again, the Trojans will play a pair of matches on Friday, taking on Mercer and Evansville, closing out the pre-conference schedule Saturday afternoon against the host Skyhawks. The 2019 Sun Belt Conference schedule begins on the road for Little Rock with the Trojans traveling to Alabama for the first weekend of competition, facing Troy Sept. 27 and South Alabama Sept. 28. That leads into a four-match home stand for the Trojans at the Jack Stephens Center, facing the Texas and Carolina foes in back-to-back weekends. The stretch begins against UT Arlington on Friday, Oct. 4, followed by reigning conference champion Texas State visiting the capital city on Saturday, Oct. 11. Little Rock remains home the following weekend, taking on Coastal Carolina on Friday, Oct. 12, leading into the match against Appalachian State the following night. Little Rock ventures south to Louisiana the following weekend, beginning with the showdown with the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette on Friday, Oct. 18. The Trojans then head to Monroe, looking to maintain its streak against the Warhawks on Saturday, Oct. 19. A three-match home stand for Little Rock begins with the yearly clash against rival Arkansas State on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Jack. The following weekend, Georgia State (Nov. 1) and Georgia Southern (Nov. 2) head to Little Rock for the Trojans’ lone matches of the season against the East Division foes. The final stretch of the regular season begins with a key three-match road trip for Little Rock, beginning with a Tuesday night showdown in Jonesboro against the Red Wolves on Nov. 6. The Trojans then head to the Lone Star state, battling Texas State in San Marcos on Friday, Nov. 8, before traveling north to Arlington for a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Mavericks on Nov. 10. Little Rock closes out the regular season at home, welcoming ULM to the Jack Stephens Center on Friday, November 15. The Sun Belt schedule then concludes Saturday, Nov. 16, as the Trojans battle Louisiana in the final home match of 2019. The Trojans will then look to make a return trip to Texas as the 2019 Sun Belt Volleyball Championship will be hosted by Texas State Nov. 21-24 in San Marcos. Little Rock hopes to build off the success of the 2018 season, one which saw the Trojans notch 19 victories, including going 10-6 in conference play, and earn a postseason berth in the NIVC. Season tickets for the 2019 Little Rock volleyball schedule are now on sale for $40. Season tickets can be purchased by contacting the Trojan ticket office at 501-565-8257.]]>