Ramsey Rallies To Claim Title

Ramsey’s Tiarra McDonald and her teammates celebrate the winning point for the Lady Rams victory over Trinity in the junior high regional volleyball tournament on Saturday in Rogers Heritage high school in Rogers.
Ramsey’s Tiarra McDonald and her teammates celebrate the winning point for the Lady Rams victory over Trinity in the junior high regional volleyball tournament on Saturday in Rogers Heritage high school in Rogers.

Fort Smith Ramsey didn’t get off to a great start in their regional tournament championship match, but the Lady Rams sure finished strong Saturday afternoon.

Ramsey shook off an opening-set loss to claim an 11-25, 25-21, 25-16 victory over Trinity of Fort Smith to claim the regional junior high volleyball title at War Eagle Arena at Rogers Heritage High.

The Lady Rams (23-4) scored the final four points of the second set, then assumed control in the final set by taking a 13-3 lead and never looked back.

Middle hitter Andee Tiffee, a 5-foot-11 seventh-grader, led a balanced Ramsey attack with nine kills, while Drew Jones added eight. Marika Stiles, another seventh-grader, also contributed three service aces, including two in a row to end the second set.

Ramsey coach Erin Chronister said she was afraid her team had put everything it had into just getting to the championship match, especially after the opening set.

“I was a little nervous,” said Chronister, whose team was the No. 2 seed from the River Valley Conference. “We came out a little sluggish thinking maybe that since we’d beaten Trinity twice they were just going to give it to us. We overcame that and by game three we were back to the team I know, making key plays and being smart with the ball.”

Trinity (28-7) was led by the duo of Merit Jennings and Nicole Knight with 11 kills each. Jennings also had four aces and Knight added three for the Lady Buffaloes, who won a pair of three-set matches to reach the finals.

Trinity coach Jon Austin was proud of his team’s play, but it wasn’t able to finish things off.

“You still have to win two to win a championship,” Austin said. “That’s the thing, being able to finish all of it. We’re happy though. This is a first for our school.”

Regional Junior High Volleyball

at War Eagle Arena, Rogers Heritage High

First Round

Springdale Southwest def. Fort Smith Chaffin, 2-0

Fort Smith Ramsey def. Bentonville Black, 2-0

Siloam Springs def. Greenwood, 2-0

Trinity def. Fayetteville Woodland, 2-1

Semifinals

Fort Smith Ramsey def. Springdale Southwest, 2-0.

Trinity def. Siloam Springs, 2-1

Finals

Fort Smith Ramsey def. Trinity, 2-1.

All-Tournament Team

Jordan Rainwater, Fort Smith Chaffin; Xandra Lock, Greenwood; Hannah Killian, Bentonville Black; Cassidy Ginger, Fayetteville Woodland; Janerose Ralpho, Neison Abon, Springdale Southwest; Ashlin Stock, Beth Brankle, Siloam Springs; Nicole Knight, Merit Jennings, Helena Drolshagen, Trinity; Drew Jones, Jamie Tipton, Andee Tiffee, Fort Smith Ramsey.

Most Valuable Player: Lexi Robertson, Fort Smith Ramsey.

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