SILOAM SPRINGS -- Siloam Springs dug itself a hole in game one against Rogers High but managed to rally for a 26-24 victory.
The Lady Mounties made sure that didn't happen again the rest of the night.
Rogers got 11 kills from senior Shannon Orlopp and 10 kills from Samantha Lassiter and won the final three games in a 3-1 (24-26, 25-16, 25-13, 25-21) victory Thursday at Panther Activity Center.
"The chemistry just hasn't quite made it yet," said Siloam Springs volleyball coach Rose Cheek-Willis. "It's not quite there. I can see that it's going to come, and I can see that when it does we're going to be tough."
Rogers led 13-6 and appeared to be cruising in game one before the Lady Panthers stormed back for the win.
The Lady Mounties (3-0) got out to good starts in games two and three as well, but this time they were able to hold off the Lady Panthers (0-2).
"We regrouped," said Rogers coach Jeana Breedlove. "We had really good games two and three."
Rogers went on an 11-2 run in game two to go up 15-5 -- a streak that included several Lady Panthers hitting and service errors and two kills from Orlopp.
Siloam Springs got back within 15-10 but Rogers answered with three straight points, including another kill from Orlopp and one kill from Madison Sherrill.
In game three, the Lady Mounties went on a 12-1 run to turn a 7-5 lead into a 19-6 advantage before finishing off the 25-13 win.
Siloam Springs matched Rogers point for point to start game four and Baily Cameron's kill tied the game at 13. The Lady Panthers then gave Rogers three straight points with a bad serve, hit out of pounds and a four-hits penalty.
Rogers' Kimi Davis served two straight aces to make it 20-15 and the Lady Mounties were able to finish off the win.
"I have to really give Siloam Springs credit for fighting and trying to upset that fourth win and take it a fifth match," Breedlove said. "They're a good program."
Davis had 21 digs for Rogers, while Hannah Lloyd had 21 assists.
Baily Cameron led Siloam Springs with 12 kills, while Laura Salley had 10 kills. Arika Johnson led with 18 assists, and Sidney Avery had 13 assists. Taylor Gay had 35 digs for the Lady Panthers, while Sierra Ferguson had 21 digs and Madisyn Fullerton had 12 digs.
Rogers starts 7A-West Conference play against Springdale on Thursday. Siloam Springs hosts Fort Smith Northside on Tuesday.
Sports on 08/29/2014