Lady Cardinals Hold Fast

FARMINGTON — The collective ability of girls on the court to dig in and persistently fight off attacks by opposing hitters is once again a strength of Farmington’s 2014 volleyball team.

This was never more evident than in the opening volley against U.S. 62 rival Prairie Grove in non-conference action Aug. 26. Inspired by the rivalry, Prairie Grove applied pressure setting up multiple hits only to watch Farmington refuse to go down easily. To their credit Prairie Grove kept after the point eventually scoring after an extended volley with both teams successfully fending off several attempted kills.

“Often times the other team scores and my kids are doing everything that they are supposed to be doing and the other team gets a kill,” said Marshall Ward, now in his third season at the helm of the Farmington volleyball program.

That’s the inherent nature of the sport, none-the-less Farmington would demonstrate a persistent resilience throughout the match frustrating and wearing the Tigers down mentally in a three- game sweep, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-16.

“I thought that Prairie Grove had some good, hard hits that they didn’t get to celebrate because we dug them and got them back over,” Ward said. “I thought that was one of the big difference makers that they didn’t get to gain momentum that they perhaps deserved off an attack.”

Farmington was so resolute in their hustle and alertness that Prairie Grove struggled to put together consecutive points throughout the match. The Lady Tigers, coached by former Arkansas Tech volleyball player, Lindsey Layes, rallied in each game but could not sustain their comeback endeavors.

“This isn’t Division I volleyball. At our level when you get that perfect attack, when it’s headed down you’re already celebrating in your mind,” Ward said. “So, when someone digs that, you did everything perfect and you got nothing.”

This kind of defense takes the steam out of an offensive machine which Ward praised his girls for consistently doing last season and he says is once again the strong point of the 2014 squad.

Serving is another factor contributing to the early season success. In 2013, the Lady Cardinals typically averaged more service errors than aces but that has turned around in 2014. Against Prairie Grove, Farmington recorded 11 aces compared to 6 service errors. Although they were even (10-10) offsetting each service success with a miscue, improvement still showed and Farmington was plus 5 in the category with 13 aces against 8 service errors in their season-opener against West Fork on Aug. 19.

“I still want more aces and less errors,” Ward said.