Lady Pioneers take final home volleyball match against Lady Bulldogs

GENTRY — In their farewell appearance at Pioneer Gym in Gentry Friday night, 11 senior members of the Lady Pioneer volleyball team competed in the final home volleyball match of their high school careers.

Before the nonconference match between Gentry and Decatur, the seniors were escorted to the Gentry side of the net by family members, teachers and friends and presented with a bag full of memories from their days on Lady Pioneer volleyball team. Those being recognized for their years of hard work and commitment to the program included Fayln Cordeiro, Carissa Goessens, Victoria Barnes, Madison Stanfill, Shawna Moua, Ariel Nix, Avani Edwards, Madison Boyd, Autumn Baker, Kinley Hays and Hannah Jackson.

The celebration was short because it was time to start the final contest of the season for both the Lady Pioneers and Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Pioneers jumped out in front of Decatur in set one, taking a five-point lead early, and continued to open a wider margin as the set progressed. The Lady Bulldogs regained their focus and managed to mount a short run before Gentry took the set, 25-12.

The Lady Bulldogs managed to keep pace with the Lady Pioneers during the second set, staying within two early. But a long run by Gentry earned the team the second set, 25-15.

Decatur regained its focus during the third and final set, with several long volleys going back and forth between the Lady Bulldogs and Gentry. Three straight points by the Lady Pioneers locked in the third set win and the final victory of the regular season for Gentry, 25-22.

The Lady Pioneers finished out their season at 5-15-1 and 0-12 in conference play.

In a match played prior to the varsity contest, the Gentry Lady Pioneer junior varsity defeated the Decatur Lady Bulldogs, 254, 25-16, for a 2-0 victory.

Prairie Grove 3 Gentry 0

On Thursday, the Lady Pioneers hosted the Lady Tigers of Prairie Grove and were swept in three straight sets, 25-20, 25-17 and 25-21.

Farmington 3 Gentry 0

At Farmington on Oct. 15, the Lady Pioneers were downed by the Lady Cards, 25-7, 25-14 and 25-14.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Kinley Hays (19) and Lady Bulldog Bronwyn Berry enter into a classic volleyball joust with the ball seemingly suspended over the net during the Friday night volleyball match at Gentry High School between Gentry and Decatur.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Kyleigh McBride (center) uses a forearm hit to send the ball back into Lady Pioneer territory during the Gentry-Decatur varsity volleyball contest at Pioneer Gym Friday night.