Lady Panthers take down Bentonville

BENTONVILLE — Siloam Springs’ volleyball team opened its 2018 season with a big win Monday night.

The Lady Panthers stormed out to a 2-0 lead on Class 6A Bentonville and, after losing the third game, powered through for a win in the fourth to take a 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24) victory over the Lady Tigers at Tiger Arena.

“I am super proud of our girls,” said head coach Joellen Wright. “Serve-receive was much improved from (last) Thursday versus (Springdale) Har-Ber. We played solid defense, persevered through some bumpy spots and executed well enough to win against a talented Bentonville team.”

It was Siloam Springs’ first victory over Bentonville since the season-opener of the 2009 season when the Lady Panthers, led by Division I players Hannah Allison and Lizzy Briones, also left Tiger Arena with a 3-1 win.

Since then it’s been all Bentonville, but on Monday night it was the Lady Panthers’ turn.

After winning a close first set, 2523, the Lady Panthers established control in the second set, 9-3, only to watch Bentonville rally to tie it 14-14.

Siloam Springs regained the upper hand 19-15 and went on to another 25-23 victory.

Bentonville won the third set and led 22-20 in the fourth set before Siloam Springs tied it 22-22. The Lady Panthers scored two more to get match point and finished off the Lady Tigers (0-1) for a 26-24 win.

Lady Panthers senior Ellie Lampton put together a strong night with 19 kills and 15 digs.

Sophomore Makenna Thomas had eight kills, while senior Madison Lanker had seven kills and senior Chloe Price had six kills.

Senior Kelsey Lewis led the Lady Panthers defensively with 18 digs, while McKenzie Cook had 15, Lampton 14, Maddy Lasater 10 and Lanker eight.

Price served two aces, while Lampton, Lasater, Lewis and Lanker each served one ace. Overall the team had five blocks for points.

Price had 26 assists on the night for Siloam Springs (1-0).

Savannah Riney led Bentonville with 19 kills, while Trinity Hamilton added 14 kills and 25 digs. Cait Hudgens finished with a matchhigh 27 digs for the Lady Tigers.

Siloam Springs returns to action at home on Thursday against Rogers in the Lady Panthers’ home opener.

“Last year we went five games with them at their place and then also lost a tiebreaker with them at the Bentonville Tournament,” Wright said. “I remember those losses being hard to take for our kids because they worked so hard for the points we had.”

Thursday night’s game is also Little Lady Panther night, as participants in this past summer’s volleyball camp receive free admission.