Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Prairie Grove Withstands Lincoln Surge In Third Set
LINCOLN — Hosting Prairie Grove at home Sept. 20, Lincoln posted notice they were ready to play in the third set scoring off a quickhit to earn the first point.
The problem was Lincoln didn’t play with the same intensity throughout the match, dropping game one (25-11) and game two (25-12). Prairie Grove led the volleyball match, two games to none, and eventually overtook Lincoln in the third set, winning 25-21, to complete the sweep.
“We take too long to get ready, we don’t start out fired up,” said Lincoln coach Stephanie Howard. “It’s hard to climb out of a hole every time.”
Howard called timeout with Lincoln trailing, 14- 3, in the first set. The Lady Wolves fashioned a mini 2-0 run off a Prairie Grove hitting error and Jada Corbit’s ace but they would get no closer than 15- 6. Prairie Grove closed out the game on a 7-2 finish concluded by sophomore Kayley Anderson’s kill to win game one, 25-11.
Prairie Grove jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second set, including Alisan Alexander’s nifty set off her fist that Riley Gerwig transformed into a kill along the front line. Lincoln had another mini 2-0 run capped by Jessica Goldman’s ace to trim the margin to 11-7. Prairie Grove responded with a 7-0 run featuring a quartet of aces served by Kara Anderson stretching the lead to 18-7. Lincoln played better from that juncture with consistent volleys. The Lady Wolves robbed Prairie Grove of several kills and capitalized on Lady Tiger miscues to fashion a 5-2 run, to pull within, 20-12. Still, the last five points belonged to Prairie Grove with the Lady Tigers claiming a 25-12 victory in game two.
Lincoln appeared focused in the third set, building a 6-2 lead by digging out hits, pushing the ball over the net and scoring on Lady Tiger hitting errors. Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart took time- out to reorganize the Lady Tiger attack. Ashlynn Smith set for Cadi Williamson’s kill, but each time the Lady Tigers would draw close, Lincoln would find a way to score. Alexander’s ace narrowed Lincoln’s advantage to 6-5, but the next three points went to the Lady Wolves capped by Lexington Dobbs’ soft kill. Lincoln was still ahead, 9-5.
Anna Kidd and Gerwig recorded back-to-back kills as the Lady Tigers clawed back to within, 11- 8. The rivals then traded points before Lincoln couldn’t get a handle on Smith’s ace falling off the net and Gerwig pounded another kill. Again Lincoln pulled away from a narrow gap, extending a 12-10 lead. Sophomore Madison Jones started the 3-1 mini run by playing the ball over on a quick hit and Prairie Grove couldn’t come up with a return. Howard has been impressed with Jones, who is in her first year of volleyball.
“She’s stepped up and played real well this year,” Howard said. “She’s never played volleyball before. She’s pretty good for a firstyear player. She’s pretty athletic all the way around.”
Goldman contributed an ace and the Lady Tigers hit the ball out- of- bounds as Lincoln forged a 15-11 lead. Down 17-14, Prairie Grove at last strung together enough points to earn a tie for the first time in game three. Kills by Kidd, Williamson and Smith drew the Lady Tigers even, at 17-17. Corbit’s serve was not returned giving Lincoln their last lead, of 20- 19. Alexander (dig), Smith (set) and Gerwig ( kill) teamed up to put Prairie Grove ahead, followed by Madison Beaver’s ace for a 22-20 lead. Miscommunication by Lincoln resulting in no hit brought Prairie Grove to match-point with a 24-21 lead. Gerwig polished the match off with a two-handed finesse kill, pushing the ball to an empty spot along the sideline. Prairie Grove won the third set, 25-21, to take a three-game sweep of the match.
Stewart is enjoying himself in his first season as a volleyball coach in several years. He coached basketball last year at Shiloh Christian, but said the Lady Tigers have helped him feel comfortable coaching volleyball at Prairie Grove.
“I absolutely love it,” Stewart said. “The girls make it such an easy transition for me. It’s been a lot of fun so far this year. I’m not perfect as a coach. I’m trying to get better as we all should be, but the girls have made it much easier.”
Stewart thinks if the Lady Tigers stay injury-free, they can be a decent team.