Lady Tiger Netters Beat Bobcats

PRAIRIE GROVE — The Prairie Grove Lady Tiger volleyball team defeated the Berryville Bobcats in a nail-biting fivegame (25-23, 25-13, 22-25, 19-25, 15-9) contest Aug. 28.

The win ran the Tigers record to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Tigers looked dominate in the early portion of the contest, winning the first two games. The Bobcats capitalized on many Tiger miscues and mental lapses to win the next two games, sending the match into a fifth, winner takes all game. The Tigers regained their intensity and focus in the final game, winning 15-9 to earn the victory.

“We are still trying to instill that fight within them,” Tiger coach Hannah McDonald said. “We can’t get ahead and then let off. We have to keep charging forward and finish the games strong.”

In the first game, Marie Gregson broke a 14-14 tie with three consecutive aces, putting the Tigers ahead 1714. An Addison Evans ace, followed by a Caleigh Moyer spike, stretched Prairie Grove’s lead to 21-15, before the Bobcats fought back to tie it up, at 22-all. The score was 24-23 in Prairie Grove’s favor when Kaleigh Witherspoon ended the contest with a kill. Gregson came alive in the second game with five kills and two blocks, helping the Tigers rout the Bobcats. Spoon took over serving duties with the Tigers leading 17-10. She then held serve for seven consecutive points, with her ace at the end of the run putting the Tigers ahead 24-10. An error on a Bobcat serve ended the game, at 2513, in Prairie Grove’s favor.

In game three, Prairie Grove had an early 3-1 lead, but the Bobcats took advantage of numerous Prairie Grove hitting errors, which helped Berryville claim the 25-22 win and avoid the three-game sweep.

In game four, Prairie Grove again led early only to watch the Bobcats seize momen- tum and claim a 25-19 win, knotting up the match at two games apiece. Gregson’s play in the game was one of the few bright spots for the Tigers. The Sophomore middle hitter had four aces, two blocks and two kills.

The Bobcats led the Tigers 4-3 in the fifth and deciding game when a Megan Gerwig spike kickstarted a 10-3 run, culminating with a thunderous cross-court spike by Witherspoon, making the score 13-8. The Tigers led 14-9 when Witherspoon clinched the race to 15 with a spike just inside the back line, giving the Tigers the three games to two victory and helping them begin their conference slate on a positive note.