Tigers’ Volleyball Suffer Losses In Triplicate

SHILOH SWEEPS PG 25-15, 25-13, 25-13

PRAIRIE GROVE — Defending state champion Shiloh Christian proved equal to its reputation dominating a 3-set sweep (25-15, 25-13, 25-13) of Prairie Grove on the Lady Tigers’ home court Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018.

“They’re a very talented team, the defending state champions,” said Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart. “They have everybody back from last year except their libero. They have 11 seniors. They’re a ‘been there, done that’ kind of a team. They don’t really do a lot of things that are going to hurt themselves.”

The Saints improved to 17-8 overall and 8-1 in conference leaving Prairie Grove still searching for its second conference win. The league is shaping up as a three-tier conference with the top four teams: Harrison (10-4, 7-0); Shiloh (17-8, 8-1); Pea Ridge (15-4, 6-2); and Farmington (8-3, 6-2); separating themselves from teams in the middle of the pack: Berryville (6-5, 4-4); Gravette (4-7, 3-6); and Huntsville (14-12-2, 3-5); while Prairie Grove (4-11-1, 1-6); and Gentry (1-13-0, 0-10), are in the cellar.

The Saints have four six-footers: senior Karlie Ramsey, junior Kaylee Jackson, junior Hallie Hutchinson, and sophomore Rylee Odell, plus a trio of seniors standing 5-11, including: Lexi Richards, Jordan Rochelle, and Shea Sandefur, along with 5-10 sophomore Anna Grace Smith.

They towered over the Lady Tigers blocking and contesting Prairie Grove hits at the net and smashing kills. Rarely did Shiloh commit back-to-back errors diminishing Prairie Grove’s chances to go on a run.

Emma Maraver’s ace followed Sophia Nunziato’s kill, which along with a Saint hitting error, erased a 2-0 Shiloh lead and gave Prairie Grove its only lead of the match, at 3-2, early in game one.

Richards, who came into the match with 358 kills on the season, broke the 3-0 mini run. Richards pounded 4 kills and served 3 aces to lead the Saints to a 25-15 win in game one.

Shiloh Christian was extremely consistent replicating the scoring differential again in the second set, 25-13; and in the third set, 25-13; to sweep the match.

Prairie Grove has 14 sophomores on its roster and Stewart hopes to mold them into a cohesive unit in belief that their best volleyball days are ahead of them.

“We’re trying to slowly, but surely build them up to where they’re going to be ready for teams like Shiloh,” Stewart said.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove junior Jansen Williams tries to play the ball over the net against the double-block attempt of Shiloh’s Lexi Richards and Jordan Rochelle. The Saints swept the Lady Tigers (25-15, 25-13, 25-13) on Oct. 2.