SSHS volleyball wraps up ’22 season

The Siloam Springs volleyball team wrapped up its season with two games last week, losing 3-0 to Van Buren on Senior Night on Tuesday, Oct. 18, before falling 3-0 at Harrison on Thursday, Oct. 20.

The Lady Panthers honored their senior class of Faith Ellis, Gracie Greer, Cailee Johnson, Esther Norwood, Cressa Soucie, Anna Wleklinski and manager Carlos Zamora before their game against Van Buren.

Coach Joellen Wright said this group of seniors were sophomores thrust into action during the odd covid-19 season in 2020. Two key players moving away before the start of the season left Siloam Springs short-handed and these players had to step up as sophomores.

“They kind of grew up on the court,” she said.

The 2021 season featured more covid quarantines which left Siloam Springs short-handed at times. But the 2022 season was played as normal.

“It’s been great for them to have a normal year,” Wright said. “They were probably robbed a little bit of their athletic experience.”

Unfortunately, the emotion of senior night didn’t carry over on the field as Van Buren swept 2514, 25-15, 25-19.

Freshman Aubrie McGhee led the Lady Pointers (14-7, 10-3 5AWest) with 12 kills, while senior Brianna Ball had 10 kills, sophomore Avary Smith eight kills and sophomore Danielle McKown six kills.

Lillian Wilkie and Jetta Broquard each had four kills for the Lady Panthers (7-19, 1-13), while Trinity Collette had 14 digs and Cressa Soucie 11 assists.

Harrison swept the Lady Panthers 25-14, 25-15, 25-18 to close out the season.