Lake Hamilton Wolf Arena to host college volleyball teams

PEARCY — Two collegiate volleyball teams will practice against each other Friday afternoon in Lake Hamilton Wolf Arena.

Teams from Lyon College in Batesville and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will scrimmage for five full games starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The practice is open and free for anyone to attend.

“If we have to have the lights on and the air conditioner is running, we would just assume fill it,” said Lake Hamilton volleyball coach Karen Smith.

Lake Hamilton graduate and Lyon junior Madisson Williams reached out to Smith to ask if Wolf Arena would be able to host the practice. Smith and coaches from both schools communicated with Jeff Scott, assistant athletic director, to schedule the meeting.

“We are excited about using our facilities,” Smith said. “They are here, they are nice and state-of-the-art. It is cool we can have college teams come in here when we practice. We can sit and watch the girls. Why wouldn’t you?”

Williams is one of three former Lady Wolves on Lyon’s current roster. Sophomore Shelby Powell and freshman Courtney Erby joined the team the

past two years.

“I think having former Lake Hamilton players out there playing at the next level is good for my kids to see that they are capable of going to the next level to play,” Smith said.

“I have sat and watched a pregame warm-up for a college volleyball team and it is way more intense than my twohour practices in high school. For them to be able to see the hard work and what these girls do at the college level, I think is really good for them to experience and see.”

Lyon coach Ray Green recruited Lake Hamilton alumni Suzanne Fincham, now Suzanne Rains, during his first year at Lyon in 2008-09. Rains led the Lady Wolves to a state championship during her junior season and a state championship in basketball as a senior.

Rains continued to play both sports for Lyon. She now coaches volleyball for Southside High School in Batesville.

Fellow alumni Kori Bullard is now a senior at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia and stars in two sports, as Rains did. Bullard was voted the Great American Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in June after receiving the Crafton Tull Elite Scholar Athlete awards in volleyball and basketball.

Smith said she hopes her players will see from the examples of Lake Hamilton alumni they are able to play in college. The experience could be especially beneficial for this year’s team, which returns no seniors.

“We are very talented, but we are having to work really hard to be at the level where we want to be because most of the kids that we are playing are seniors,” Smith said.

Lake Hamilton usually practices from about 2:30-5 p.m. during the week. Smith said many students may be able to be in the arena for the start of the practice, but most should be able to watch during the final period of the day.

“Even if they do not come out at the start of the games, the girls will be in here in the gym during eighth period,” Smith said. “We will get to watch one way or another.”

The scrimmage will not count as a match nor exhibition for Lyon and UAPB. No officials will be used.

Smith said numerous college programs have reached out to utilize Wolf Arena since it was completed in 2015. The $16 million facility was constructed after voters approved a millage increase in February

2013 for the district to qualify for $4.4 million from the state’s Academic Facilities Partnership Program for a new middle school and career and technical building at the high school.

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville inquired about using Wolf Arena a year ago if the volleyball team was able to hold a retreat in the area. Lyon and UAPB also nearly met at Lake Hamilton last year, but talks fell through.

Lyon’s roster includes 14 graduates from Arkansas high schools as Green heads into his 10th season as coach. The roster also includes one player from each of Hawaii, Missouri and Serbia.

Britney Sahlmann, from Bryant, is the only Arkansas graduate on UAPB’s roster. The Lady Lions feature players from Arizona, California, Illinois, Texas, St. Lucia and five from Canada.

The Lady Wolves will open up their season with three straight road matches at Malvern, Camden and Bryant on Tuesday, Aug. 24 and Aug. 29, respectively. Their next two matches will both be at home against Texarkana and Hot Springs on Aug.

31 and Sept. 5, respectively.