CONWAY -- Creating team chemistry in an all-star setting is often difficult, but the West team may have an advantage in tonight's Arkansas High School Coaches' Association All-Star volleyball match.
At least five or six players on the West squad have played club ball together at different times throughout their careers. That familiarity could prove valuable since the 14-person roster had only three practices together before the 7 p.m. best-of-five match at the Farris Center on the Central Arkansas campus.
Today’s Ticket
Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Volleyball Match
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Farris Center, University of Central Arkansas, Conway
Team Rosters
WEST
Head Coach: Brad Lyle, Mena
Assistant Coaches: Leigh Ann Back, Jessieville; Brandy Chumley, Benton; Candy Bailey, Magnolia
Manager: Bailey Bunch, Mena
No.^Name^School
2^Lauren Brown^Shiloh Christian
3^Mallory Ward^Mansfield
4^Beth Brankle^Siloam Springs
5^Morgan Norwood^Texarkana
10^Emily Bruce^Bentonville
11^Allison Reynolds^Benton
12^Natalie Rose^Mena
13^Courtney Kendig^Hot Springs Lakeside
14^Maegan Kent^Mena
15^Cassidy Ginger^Fayetteville
20^Kaylie Pyles^Mansfield
21^Kori Bullard^Lake Hamilton
22^Brittany Butler^Shiloh Christian
23^Ariel Hornsby^Bentonville
EAST
Head Coach: Angie Donner, Paragould
Assistant Coaches: Tracey Brown, Atkins; Julie Tubbs, Jonesboro Westside; Lindsey Leonard, Mountain Home
Manager: Audra Nailing, Paragould
No.^Name^School
1/23^Nicole Knight^Fort Smith Northside
00/10^Sydney Skelton^Jonesboro
2/0^Rachel Skinner^Conway
3^Lindsey Harrison^Mountain Home
4^Shelby Wallace^Jonesboro Westside
5^Brentlee Weaver^Valley View
11^Maddie Gilliam^Greenwood
12^Shayna McMillin^Nettleton
13^Devin Chronister^Fort Smith Northside
14^Makayla Harris^Atkins
15^Meagan Briggler^Conway St. Joseph
20^Paula Chavers^Valley View
21^Susannah Kelley^Jonesboro
22^Sydney Layrock^Paragould
Game Officials: Jamie Forbes, Jessie McVay.
Fayetteville's Cassidy Ginger said having a setter she knows in Shiloh Christian's Lauren Brown on the team could be key for the West.
"Several of us are familiar with Lauren's technique and that should help the hitters," Ginger said. "Several of us have played together and that's a help since we know each other and how we play."
Brown will have one West teammate she's very familiar with in middle hitter Brittany Butler. The two were key to Shiloh Christian's 5A-East Conference championship.
Brown and Butler aren't the only teammates on the West squad. There are three other duos on the team. Mansfield tandem Mallory Ward and Kaylie Pyles is another setter-hitter combination, along with Bentonville's Ariel Hornsby and Emily Bruce and Mena's Natalie Rose and Maegan Kent. Ward and Pyles helped Mansfield to a Class 3A state title.
The Bentonville twosome and Mena's duo both led their respective teams state runner-up finishes in 7A and 4A.
West coach Brad Lyle of Mena said making sure his team had accomplished setters is another big key in an all-star game. He learned that the hard way.
"Height is good, but height is not everything, said Lyle, who is making his fifth appearance on the All-Star coaching staff. "I've been fortunate enough to do this a few times and I've learned hitter are abundant. Setters and liberos aren't necessarily.
"One year we had one setter in the whole bunch. We had to move a middle hitter to setter and that didn't end up working out too well."
Lyle's West squad is blessed with several setters though, which will allow both teams to run a 6-2 offense. That's almost unheard of in an all-star game.
"My girl Natalie and the girl from Shiloh and Mallory from Mansfield wasn't even listed on our sheet as a setter, but good Lord I've watched her," Lyle said. "We played them five, six times. I think we're fine at setter."
Bruce and Beth Brankle of Siloam Springs will both likely play libero, the position they played in high school.
Hornsby played middle hitter for Bentonville, but will likely get the chance to play outside thanks to good depth at middle hitter, Lyle said.
"That's where she's going to play in college and that's where she wants to play," Lyle said. "We've got plenty of middles."
Hornsby and Bruce won't be through with volleyball after tonight, since they are both headed to Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in the fall, but for Ginger, Butler, Brown and Brankle this will be the end.
However, all agree going out with a victory is the goal.
"It's a chance to finish our high school careers with a win and that's important," Ginger said.
Sports on 06/25/2014