Most Dangerous Team In Arkansas

FARMINGTON — Quietly, Farmington has become perhaps the most dangerous team in Arkansas heading into the post-season. The Lady Cardinals swept Pea Ridge (25-21, 25-11, 25-19) Oct. 3, to even the season series. Pea Ridge defeated Farmington 3-2 Aug. 22. The rematch wasn’t nearly as competitive. The Lady Cardinals did in Clarksville (25-9, 25-7, 25-12) in straight sets Oct. 4, then recovered from a, 25-17, first set loss to dust off Alma, 25-21, 25-18, 25-19, Oct. 6.

Farmington crashed the party with a, 25-18, 25-18, defeat of the host team during the Paris tournament, Oct. 8, to earn the No. 1 seed in pool play. The Lady Cardinals earned coach Marshall Ward his first victory over a 7A school by defeating Rogers Heritage in bracket play on the way to a second place finish out of 16 teams competing in the tournament, losing only to Greene County Tech. Following the tournament, Farmington swept former 4A-1 rival Berryville, 25-12, 25-17, 25-14, Oct. 10, then polished off Russellville, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 15-9.

“I just beat my first 6A team — ever,” Ward said, not trying to hide his enthusiasm amidst a senior night celebration.

“The biggest spark was that Alma game,” Ward said. “Since then, we have been playing very well. We played in a tournament this past Saturday in Paris. We finished second out of 16 teams to Greene County Tech. We beat Paris 2-0 in pool play to take the No. 1 seed. They are an exceptional team. Then we beat Rogers Heritage 2-0 in the first-round in bracket play.”

“Some of these wins we’ve been getting, we just kind of take it in stride, but I hope we step back and look at who we beat.” Ward said.

Coming into the 5A West Conference tournament at Alma Oct. 17, Ward wasn’t expecting to face a firstround opponent the caliber of Russellville.

“If we play like we did the last two weeks, I’m a happy, happy man,” Ward said.

The one 5A West team Farmington was not able to defeat during the regular season is Harrison, which swept the Lady Cardinals at home, 25-11, 25-14, 25-15, on Sept. 20. The Goblins found the going much more difficult the second time around, although they were playing at home. Four sets were required for Harrison to win Thursday, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 25-11, with the first two games highly competitive. Although the final conference standings weren’t determined until Thursday, Ward knew Tuesday, the Lady Cardinals wouldn’t have to play Harrison in the first-round.

“We won’t be paired with them out of the gate,” Ward said, noting the 5A West Conference tournament pitted the Eastern Division, Greenbrier, Maumelle, Morrilton and Vilonia against the Western Division, Farmington, Alma, Clarksville and Harrison in firstround competition.

Ward was confident the Lady Cardinals could upstage a higher-seeded opponent in the conference tournament and qualify for state.

“If they get film on us - if it’s from the beginning of the year, they’re going to be real disappointed,” Ward grinned. “My girls have worked really hard to get better.”