SILOAM SPRINGS — Springdale High made an adjustment with its starting lineup, going to a more balanced offense with two setters.
The new look wasn’t enough to slow down Siloam Springs.
The Lady Panthers picked up their third straight sweep Tuesday with a dominating 3-0 win (25-9, 25-16, 25-10) in Panther Activity Center.
Siloam Springs assistant coach Joellen Wright said the Lady Panthers (9-5, 4-2) came into the game knowing that Springdale had taken a game off of first place Bentonville earlier in the year. Knowing that, she said, kept the Lady Panthers zoned in the entire night.
“They stayed up the whole match,” Wright said. “They never gave them a chance.”
Siloam Springs blew open game one with a 10-1 run midway through the match with points coming from all over the court. Seniors Lauren Cook, Bailei Brown and Leah Bergthold had kills in the run, while junior Mirna Torres had a kill and teamed up with Bergthold and Brown for blocks.
Ashlin Stock pushed a kill down, Brown had another kill and Sidney Avery served an ace to end the game and put Siloam Springs up 1-0.
Springdale (8-11, 1-5) took a 4-0 lead in game two with Allee Staggs providing two kills, but Siloam Springs quickly tied it up and surged ahead with a 10-2 run. Springdale struggled to keep pace with the Lady Panthers, who pulled ahead 17-12 after a kill from Baily Cameron. The Lady Panthers ended the match on an 8-4 run.
SIloam Springs led game three 6-5 before another big run had Wright subbing liberally at the end.
Cook had a kill to make it 18-9, followed by an Avery ace and a block from Cook and Cameron to make it 20-9. Avery served two straight aces, and Cook and Haley Stewart teamed up for a big block to give Siloam Springs match point.
Cook hammered home a kill off the left side to end the match.
Torres and Brown each had six kills, while Brown had three block assists and Torres had two block assists. Avery finished with five kills, five aces and 11 digs. Cook, Cameron and Bergthold each had four kills, while Beth Brankle led with 17 digs.
“Defensively we were scrappy,” Wright said. “I only marked one or two times where our defense let the ball hit the floor.”
Stagg led Springdale with seven kills. Both of the Lady Bulldogs’ setters, Marlen Reynoso and Maddie Mueller, each had eight assists.
“Things were new for us on the court,” said Springdale coach Amanda Williford. “Our cohesiveness was better, so that was a win for us.”
Both teams continue conference play on Thursday. Siloam Springs hosts Van Buren while Springdale hosts rival Har-Ber.