SPRINGDALE — Springdale Har-Ber began the second half of 7A/6A-West Conference play the same way it ended the first half.
With a victory.
Har-Ber defeated Van Buren 3-0 Tuesday for its fifth consecutive victory in girls volleyball action at Wildcat Arena. The Lady Wildcats (10-4, 6-2) swept to wins of 25-16, 25-8, and 25-16 over Van Buren (3-12, 0-8), who remain winless in conference play.
Kim Huff had seven kills and Carley McGaugh six kills for Har-Ber (10-4, 6-2), which hasn’t lost since dropping a nonconference match at home against Shiloh Christian three weeks ago. Har-Ber will play at Bentonville on Thursday after getting swept 3-0 at home by the Lady Tigers in the team’s first meeting.
“We didn’t play our best game when we played Bentonville here, but that was early in the season,” Har-Ber coach Sandy Jones said. “I’m hoping with maturity and, by getting players healthy again, it’ll be a plus for us down the road.”
Van Buren put up a good effort in the first game against Har-Ber before losing 25-16. The Lady Pointers got to within 17-12 before McGaugh, a senior, ended the spurt with an overhand right for the kill. That began another surge for the Lady Wildcats, who used a block by Huff, a kill by junior Emily Coats, and ace by McGaugh to finish off the Lady Pointers.
“Carley McGaugh played an awesome game, back row and front row,” Jones said. “She stepped it up and that’s what we talked about with starting the second round.”
Har-Ber had a 7-0 run in the game that included some strong serves by Coats and a cross-court kill by McGaugh that gave the Lady Wildcats a 16-7 lead. Van Buren didn’t offer much resistance in the second game when Har-Ber won easily, 25-8, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
“We waited until halfway through that first game to start fighting,” Van Buren coach Stephanie Hill said. “Once we started fighting, we looked pretty good. I was hoping to keep the momentum going in the second game on our side of the court but it didn’t happen. We kind of lost our heads.”
The Lady Pointers took an early lead in the third set before Har-Ber regained control midway through the match. Junior Anna Hudgeons made a diving save in the backcourt to set up a kill by McGaugh to put Har-Ber ahead 15-9. Har-Ber continued to control the action and won the game 25-16 after consecutive kills by Huff and Tayleah Neal, a senior.
Neal had 11 blocks and Miranda Kelly 13 assists for Har-Ber, which also received eight digs from Hudgeons.