Lady Panthers suffer first loss

— Siloam Springs' undefeated run to start the 2009 volleyball season came to an end Saturday at the Tri-State Challenge at the All-Star SportsArena.

The Lady Panthers went 4-2 and finished in third place on the day.

Siloam Springs (17-2) lost its opening match Saturday toWashington, Mo., 25-16, 26-24. The Lady Panthers split two games with Fayetteville 25-16,25-27 but won the match on points and then beat Blue Valley, Kan., to close out pool play and advance to the tournament's Gold Bracket.

The Lady Panthers exacted a measure of revenge against Washington in the first round of tournament play winning 25-17, 20-25, 25-17 but the match could have been over in two games. Coach Rose Cheek said the Lady Panthers had two points taken off the scoreboard in Game 2 because of a scoring error in the official book that conflicted with the Washington and Siloam Springs' books. The marathonmatch went to a third game andit took its toll on the Lady Panthers.

A tired Siloam Springs team then played a freshly rested Washburn, Kan, squad that received a first-round bye. Washburn defeated Siloam Springs 25-17, 25-21.

Siloam Springs beat Logan-Rogersville, Mo., 25-21, 25-21 in the third place game.

"The girls played for basically five-and-a-half hours straight," Cheek said. "There was hardly any rest. You're playing the best in Arkansas, the best in Missouri and Kansas. We're pleased to come out with third, but we were disappointed we didn't get to playin the championship game."

Junior middle Lizzy Briones led the Lady Panthers for the day with 47 kills, 15 block assists, five solo blocks and seven aces. Senior Hannah Allison, a Texas commitment, had 40 kills, 65 assists, 11 block assists, five solo blocks and two aces.

Allie Wade had 24 kills and 12 block assists, while Laken Grigg had 50 assists and four aces.

"They loved it because everybody was so good," Cheek said of her players. "That's how you get better. We're not going to get any better going to weak tournaments."

Cheek gave the team off on Sunday but it will return Monday in preparation for Tuesday's 5A-West Conference home match against Greenwood. The Lady Panthers have defeated Greenwood in the last three Class 5A state finals.

"We know Greenwood's always strong," Cheek said. "They're very well-coached. Jennifer Golden does a good job. Jill Barrett's back and we know she's a very good player."

Rogers High went 1-4 at the Tri-State Challenge.

The Lady Mounties (4-12) lost to St. James Academy (Kan.), Greenwood and Eurerka, Mo. in pool play and were placed in the Silver Bracket.

Rogers defeated Blue Valley, Kan., in the first round of bracket play before losing to Fort Smith Southside.

The Lady Mounties play at Har-Ber on Tuesday.

Bentonville Lady Tigers

Bentonville went 2-2-1 overall at the Springfield (Mo.) Classic this past weekend.

The Lady Tigers went 2-1-1 in pool play and lost in the quarterfinals of the Gold Bracket against Nixa, Mo.

The Lady Tigers (10-7-1, 5-0 in 7A-West) return to league action on Tuesday at Rogers Heritage.

Sports, Pages 6, 7 on 09/21/2009

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