BENTONVILLE — Realizing the tall task awaiting his team, Fort Smith Southside volleyball coach Steve Haaser talked to his players about hitting to different spots on the court.
But even Haaser acknowledged there wasn’t much his hitters could do to get around Fayetteville’s blockers, several of whom stand 5-foot-10 or taller.
The Lady Bulldogs repeatedly deflected Southside’s shots Thursday, and with a 25-11, 25-17, 25-19 win, they swatted away any hope the Confederettes had of pulling off an upset in the semifinals of the Class 7A State Tournament.
“Blocking is a great momentum keeper and builder,” Fayetteville coach Jessica Phelan said moments after her players celebrated in Tiger Arena. “And I thought that we did a good job lining up and using our height advantage at the net.”
Shannon Airola blocked seven shots, Aubrey Edie added five blocks and top-seeded Fayetteville (32-3-3) used its stingy defense to advance to Saturday’s state championship match.
As expected, Bentonville (30-8) stands in the Lady Bulldogs’ way of capturing a state title. The two teams split their first two meetings this season and will renew their rivalry here at 3 p.m. Saturday.
In Fayetteville’s last appearance in the state title match, in 2007, Bentonville won in five games.
“We’re obviously one step closer,” Phelan said. “It’s our second trip to the championship game, which is one of the goals the girls set at the beginning of the year. So I’m real pleased with how we came out (Thursday).”
The Lady Bulldogs didn’t give the Confederettes (24-12) many openings early on. With Airola and Edie going up together and blocking shots, Fayetteville jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the first game and 12-6 in the second game.
Southside hung strong in the final game and trailed only 15-14 by countering Fayetteville’s power at the net. But the Lady Bulldogs relied on their balanced offense of outside hitters Hannah Pinter (15 kills), Courtney Marshall (11 kills) and Paige Gocke (11 kills) to pull away for the win.
Edie had 40 assists to go along with her five blocks, and Fayetteville sophomore Tatum Marshall provided additional defense with 29 digs. Thursday marked the Lady Bulldogs’ third win over Southside this season.
“They’re so strong at everything. They’re definitely a great blocking team,” Haaser said of Fayetteville. “Defense, it’s so hard to get a ball down on ’em. They dig everything up, and their setter (Edie) is unbelievable. (She) makes the whole show go.”
Outside hitter Brooke Hale led Southside with nine kills, and setter Olivia Caldwell added 15 assists.