Teams Compete In Volleyball Tourney Hosted By Lincoln

TEAMS BATTLE TO QUALIFY FOR STATE

— Nine teams from the 4A-1 Conference competed in the district volleyball tournament hosted by Lincoln High School this week seeking to qualify for state competition.

Three of the league’s four spots in the State 4A volleyball tournament had been decided by press time Tuesday. The only match that hadn’t yet been played did not involve local teams with No. 4 Pea Ridge taking on No. 5 Gravette Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Prior to that, in matches held Monday No. 8 West Fork defeated No. 9 Gentry (25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 19-25, 17-15); No. 1 Shiloh Christian breezed past West Fork (25-11, 25-7, 25-9); No. 2 Berryville swept Prairie Grove (25-22, 25-22, 25-13); and No. 3 Huntsville eliminated tournament host, No. 6 Lincoln (25-15, 25-15, 25-18) to set the matchups for Tuesday’s semifinals at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The tournament wraps up Thursday with the consolation match scheduled for 5:30 p.m. followed by the championship at 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln entered the tournament with momentum. The Lady Wolves began the year with an all new coaching staff with first-year head coach Lauren Merrit-Creed assisted by Emilianne Slamons. The two coaches quickly meshed as did the Lady Wolves.

Lincoln did not have a nonconference schedule, yet they were competitive out of the gate. On Aug. 29, the Lady Wolves took game one, 25-22, against Gravette before losing the next three sets, 25-17, 25-14, 25-14. The Lady Wolves rebounded by posting an Aug. 31 5-set win against West Fork (25-11, 25-20, 20-25, 21-25, 15-10). Lincoln spit their next four matches, beating Decatur and Gentry with loses to Elkins and Shiloh Christian.

On Sept. 19, the Lady Wolves were swept, 25-14, 25-11, 26-24, by Prairie Grove. In a rematch with Gravette, the Lady Lions handled Lincoln, 25-16, 25-10, 25-12; but Lincoln showed improvement the second time around versus West Fork. On Sept. 26, the Lady Wolves didn’t allow the Tigers to get into the winning column with a 25-7, 25-22, 25-22 sweep.

Lincoln beat Decatur, then lost again to Elkins and Shiloh Christian. On Oct. 10, they picked up steam with a 3-1 win over Gentry by scores of 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22. That victory poised the Lady Wolves to achieve something that had never been accomplished in school history — finish the regular season with as many conference wins as losses.

In order to reach that milestone, Lincoln had to beat Prairie Grove and they did by posting a sweep of the Lady Tigers (27-25, 25-19, 25-20) on Thursday.

“That’s the first time they have been .500 in school history,” beamed Lincoln athletic director Deon Birkes, who is overseeing tournament organization this week. “The coaches have done an awesome job with them. Talk about home-run hires, Coach Lauren Merrit-Creed and Coach Emilianne Slamons, have done a great job.”

The Lady Wolves’ success has drawn a few more bodies in the seats and fan support is something Birkes says can give Lincoln a boost during the tournament.

“The fans are supporting their kids,” Birkes said. “That will push us over the edge a little bit right there, just parents supporting their kids.”

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER The 2017 Lincoln Lady Wolves achieved a milestone in a season of the unprecedented, finishing 7-7 in conference play after a 27-25, 25-19, 25-20 sweep of Prairie Grove Thursday. Lincoln hosts the District 4A-1 Volleyball tournament this week.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lady Tigers Huddle. Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart takes time-out to get the Lady Tiger volleyball team reorganized during a match at Lincoln. The Lady Tigers competed in the district tournament this week at Lincoln.

Lincoln High School hosts the District 4A-1 volleyball tournament this week. The consolation match is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. followed by the championship at 6:30 p.m.