LITTLE ROCK — Bentonville Coach Michelle Coens doesn’t worry about losses, in fact she plans for them.
The Lady Tigers go for their third Class 7A volleyball state championship in four years this week. The state tournament, which Bentonville is hosting, begins today at Tiger Arena, but the Tigers (27-8) have a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed from the 7AWest Conference.
Bentonville had a chance to earn the No. 1 seed but lost in three games to Fayetteville (30-3-3) on Oct. 19. The Lady Tigers didn’t dwell on the disappointment, and beat Webb City (Mo.) on Thursday night in four games.
Coens didn’t think Bentonville would beat Webb City and was pleasantly surprised by the victory. So much for scheduling tuneups at the end of the regular season.
“The girls definitely showed they bounced back,” Coens said. “We were going into it with our heads held high, and it was a nice surprise. I don’t schedule matches we can win very easy.
“Our nonconference games, I don’t expect to win. We play to get experience against really tough teams.”
That has certainly prepared Bentonville for the state tournament. Fayetteville and Bentonville are the favorites, but no one would ever count out No. 3 West seed Fort Smith Southside, the defending champion with seven titles since 1997.
Conway, the No. 1 seed from the East, is also capable of making a deep run. Springdale Har-Ber, the West’s fourth seed, made the final a year ago as the fourth seed by upsetting Bentonville in the semifinals.
“It’s going to be a challenge getting to the finals,” Coens said. “Obviously, our expectations are set really high. When you’re in the playoffs, seeds don’t matter. Everybody brings their ‘A’ game.”
Bentonville has a deep roster of talent led by junior hitter Rebecca Brown and senior setter Morgan Hayes. Coens said the Lady Tigers’ success is not player-driven but comes from a team-based approach.
“All-around, the girls have been playing very consistently,” Coens said. “No one girl has been outshining the others.”
The Lady Tigers have tried for several years to get the state tournament held at Tiger Arena. Bentonville will also play host to the classwide state championship games this weekend, but the Lady Tigers don’t feel any additional pressure.
“I wouldn’t say pressure, I’d say excitement,” Coens said. “The team is in a groove right now. We’re ready to get it started. The anticipation is building up and building up and building up.”
Class 7A tournament schedule at Tiger Arena, Bentonville TODAY GAME 1 Springdale Har-Ber vs. West Memphis, Noon GAME 2 Bryant vs. Rogers Heritage, 2 p.m.
GAME 3 North Little Rock vs. Fort Smith Northside, 4 p.m.
GAME 4 Fort Smith Southside vs. Cabot, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY GAME 5 Conway vs. Game 1 winner GAME 6 Bentonville vs. Game 2 winner GAME 7 Fayetteville vs. Game 3 winner GAME 8 Mount St. Mary vs. Game 4 winner THURSDAY GAME 9 Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner GAME 10 Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner SATURDAY CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 11 Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner
Sports, Pages 19 on 10/26/2010