FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas volleyball team started out slowly with only one win before the Arkansas Invitational at Barnhill Arena. But now the Razorbacks seem to be catching on.

Arkansas defeated Tennesee-Martin 3-0 (25-22, 29-27, 25-20) for its second win in two days Saturday afternoon.

However, Virginia Tech edged the Razorbacks (3-7) 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-7) later in the evening.

Freshman Kelli Stipanovich led Arkansas (3-6) to its second win of the tournament with 15 kills and .244 hitting percentage. Sophomore Heather Royal added 10 kills and 20 digs in the win.

“Kelli is getting it done with these numbers,” Arkansas coach Robert Pulliza said. “If she and Heather keep up the production up the way it is on the left side, we will be in good shape (heading into conference).”

Arkansas and Tennessee-Martin matched errors in the beginning of the first game and seemed it would become of match of who could make the least errors.

Until Arkansas senior Christina Lawrence started a 10-2 run with a service ace. The Razorbacks never relinquished their lead, winning 25-22.

In game two, Arkansas immediately fell behind 7-3, which included a point to the Skyhawks for a red card against Arkansas coach Pulliza.

“We knew that Tennesee-Martin starts out on fire,” Pulliza said. “We needed to be ready to play but they got us on our heels with a couple things and got ahead.”

Several errors by the Tennessee-Martin and big kills by Arkansas senior Kristin Seaton and Stipanovich helped the Hogs pull ahead.

“We need to be more consistent for longer periods of time,” Pulliza said. “We get these long leads and then we seem to sit back.”

The Skyhawks weren’t finished yet though, as they tied Arkansas 20-20 causing the Razorbacks to call a timeout.

A net violation by Arkansas and a kill by UTM player Breanne Carey put UTM up 24-23, but the Hogs answered pulling ahead 25-24. One of the longest rallies in the match at Arkansas game point, ended in with another UTM point.

The Hogs and Skyhawks changed lead or tied the game 24 times in the second set until Arkansas finally won 29-27.

“We don’t know how to finish games quite yet because of our youth and inexperience,” said first-year Skyhawk coach Darrin McClure said.”

Stipanovich and Lawrence each earned all-tournament honors. The freshman finished with a team-best 16 kills against tournament champion Virginia Tech and Lawrence added 11.

Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play Friday at 7 p.m. at Auburn.