ROGERS -- Samantha Lassiter and Hannah Martin delivered for Rogers High.
After Fort Smith Northside tied Thursday's 7A-West Conference volleyball match at 1-1, Lassiter and Martin combined for 12 kills in a 25-16 Rogers win in the third game that helped push the Lady Mounties to a 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20) victory over the Lady Bears Thursday night in King Arena.
The win snapped a three-game conference losing streak by the Lady Mounties (6-7-1, 2-3 7A-West Conference).
"The state tournament is a long ways away, but every win helps us on the road to get there," said Rogers coach Jeana Breedlove. "We need to get every win we can get, and we need to pull a few upsets. That is what we are working towards."
Lassiter had seven of her 16 kills in the third game while Martin had five of her 11 kills as Rogers took a 2-1 lead in the match. Lassiter had three kills early in the second game and her sixth gave Rogers a 14-9 lead. Martin then had back-to-back kills for a 24-14 lead as the Lady Mounties took control of the match.
Lassiter had back-to-back kills for a 3-1 lead in the fourth game and Kassidy Wall added four kills as Rogers pulled away for the win.
"Lassiter and Martin are a pretty good duo," Breedlove said. "They have been playing together for a few years and they have got used to each other. I thought they stepped up and took care of business. When we are in need of a kill, they usually step up for us."
Rogers started strong as they took a 5-1 lead in the first game and Hannah Lloyd then had eight service points during a 9-0 run as the Lady Mounties took a 1-0 lead with a 25-14 decision.
"We got a jump-start on them," Breedlove said.
But Northside erased a 13-7 Rogers lead in the second game to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-23 win. Junior Emma Fitzgerald had three kills and an ace for the Lady Bears (1-7, 0-5) in the second game. But Lassiter and Martin got Rogers rolling again as the Lady Mounties won the next two games in convincing fashion.
"We found some energy in game two, but I thought we were lacking energy and enthusiasm," said Northside assistant coach Matthew Waack. "We just couldn't pass the ball like we usually do."
Sports on 09/18/2015