Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bentonville sweeps past Springdale
BENTONVILLE HIGH 3, SPRINGDALE HIGH 0
BENTONVILLE — There was no way Bentonville High’s volleyball team would fall for the proverbial snare Tuesday night.
With a tough Jenks (Okla.) Invitational behind them and a match against Bentonville West ahead of them, the Lady Tigers refused to be trapped and took a 3-0 sweep over Springdale High during 6A-West Conference action in Tiger Arena.
“Being at home is always nice, but playing against a team like Springdale, it can go either way,” Bentonville coach Michelle Smith said after her team’s 25-16, 25-20, 25-14 win. “If we open up that window of opportunity, Springdale will definitely take it. They’re a good team and played us tough.
“But I was proud of our girls on our end — taking care of business on our side of the net and not getting too flustered. And coming away with a 3-0 win is always a good thing.”
Bentonville (13-6, 5-1 6A-West) went on a 13-3 run in the first set and turned a 4-4 tie into a 17-7 cushion, and the Lady Tigers were never threatened, although Springdale (3-9, 1-5) ran off five straight points at one point. The Lady Bulldogs, however, kept things close in the second set and were within 15-14 at one point before Bentonville eventually took the set.
The Lady Tigers then jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the third set and never allowed the Lady Bulldogs to get within three points en route to their sweep.
“It was a very balanced match,” Smith said. “It was balanced on the court, and it was balanced from the bench, with people coming in and getting some extra playing time. It was a nice team effort, and I was really proud of the girls and how they performed when I mixed up lineups or changed a player here or there. They produced.”
Trinity Hamilton had 11 kills and 7 digs for Bentonville, which travels Thursday to West, while Savanna Riney had nine kills and 11 digs. Maddie Breed contributed six kills and four blocks, while Taylor Shapley had a teamhigh 26 assists and nine digs.
Amaya Johnson led Springdale with nine kills and also had seven digs, while Taina Miller added six kills and three blocks. Maddie Downing and Matty Chong Gum contributed 12 and 10 assists, respectively, while Bethlynn Kobeney had 11 digs.
FAYETTEVILLE 3, ROGERS HERITAGE 0
Fayetteville completed its second consecutive sweep in league play by defeating Rogers Heritage 3-0 (25-9, 259, 25-9).
Rosana Hicks had nine kills and Perry Flannigan seven kills for the Lady Bulldogs. Kennedy Phelan added 20 assists and Gracyn Spresser 11 digs.
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 3, ROGERS HIGH 0
Sophomore Caylan Koons just missed a triple-double to help the Lady Wildcats (14-4, 6-0) to a 25-15, 25-11, 25-14 win over the Lady Mounties in 6A-West Conference action.
Koons finished with eight kills, 21 assists and an incredible 10 aces for the Lady Wildcats, who remained alone atop the conference standings.
Natalie Williams and Kat Cooper chipped in with eight kills each, while libero Trinity Sharp added a team-high 12 digs. Abby Harris finished with a match-high nine kills for Rogers, while Brooke Park tied for match honors with 12 digs.
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 3, LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL 0
Toree Tiffee hammered 15 kills to lead the Mavericks to a 25-11, 25-20, 25-6 6A-Central Conference win on the road.
Avery Fitzgerald added nine kills, nine digs and three aces, while Hannah Hogue dished out 26 assists.
VAN BUREN 3, BENTONVILLE WEST 0
Madalyn Doolittle finished with 10 kills to lead the Lady Pointers to the 6A-West Conference win.
Grace Doolittle chipped in six kills, while Brianna Ball contributed 23 assists.