Lady Lions lose in straight sets to Lady Cardinals

GRAVETTE — The Lady Lions opened their regular season play in their new home at the competition gym against the Farmington Lady Cardinals Aug. 25. Unfortunately for Gravette fans, the Lady Lions were unable to pull out the win, losing in three straight sets to the Lady Cardinals.

After several months of renovation to the former home of the Gravette basketball program, the competition gym was ready to serve as a new permanent home for the volleyball program, replacing the smaller old gym at Gravette High School. The competition gym’s larger seating capacity makes social distancing easier for spectators.

Returning for her second season, head coach Britney Davis welcomed a new assistant, Skyler

Rawlins, who is also the new head softball coach.

The Lady Lions struggled a bit in the first two sets, falling behind by as much as 10 points.

The team did manage to cut into the Farmington lead but was never able to catch up to

the Lady Cardinals. But that all changed in the third set.

Gravette started out strong, gaining its first lead of the contest early in the set. But the Lady Cardinals stayed right with the Lady Lions until the midpoint in the set when they pulled ahead by two. A long volley, lasting around a minute, ensued with both teams playing heads up volleyball.

Just when it looked like Farmington would catch the point, the Gravette girls pulled off a miracle, sending the ball back to the Lady Cardinals. Finally, one of the Farmington hitters found a hole between the Gravette players and took advantage by dropping the ball right in the center where no Gravette player could reach it. This ended the volley with the point going to Farmington.

In spite of a strong showing by the Lady Lions, Farmington took the final set to win the match.

The junior varsity, who played Farmington in an earlier match, also lost in straight sets.

Gravette Lady Lions hit the road on Aug. 27, traveling to Prairie Grove to take on the Lady Tigers. The Lady Lions were unable to pull off a win, with the Lady Tigers taking three sets in the match, 25-14, 25-9, 2521. Gravette did win its first set victory of the season, taking set two, 25-23.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Aubrey Gebhart (Lion 10) tries to fake out the Lady Cardinal front line as teammate Abbie Smith spikes the ball into the backcourt during the Gravette-Farmington volleyball match in the competition gym in Gravette Aug. 25. The ploy worked, giving the Lady Lions a point and the early lead in set three.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Aubrey Gebhart (Lion 10) sends the ball back over the net between two Lady Cardinal players.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Lion Lauren Irwin (5) tips the ball away from a Lady Cardinal player during the Aug. 25 Gravette-Farmington varsity match in Gravette. Irwin’s shot dropped between two Farmington players for a Gravette point.