SPRINGDALE -- Springdale Har-Ber coach Shyrah Schisler wanted to see more energy out of her club following Tuesday's win over Rogers High.
She got just what she wanted at Springdale High on Thursday night in a 25-16, 25-4, 15-14 win.
Har-Ber never trailed in the match, but the Lady Red'Dogs battled the now 23-2 (9-0 7A-West) Lady Wildcats in the first set. After a Zoe Schmidt kill, Springdale was in striking distance of tying the opening set, 12-9.
But Lauren Thompson, Lauren Law and Klaire Trainor added kills and led Har-Ber on a 13-7 run to grab a 25-16 win. Arika Johnson capped the set with her second ace of the night.
"We were able to give them some good balls to work with," Schisler said of her hitters. "Springdale had their defense pulled in, and we were able to utilize what they were doing."
The final two sets, though, the Lady Wildcats controlled from the jump. Har-Ber leapt to a 16-0 lead to open the second set and a 25-4 win to take a 2-0 lead over Springdale. Thompson was the driving force with six kills. In all, five Lady Wildcats tallied kills in the set.
The third set was more of the same after Springdale's Jenna Morris tied things up, 1-1, with a kill. Har-Ber proceeded to go on a 12-0 run, grabbing all of the momentum to close out the match with a 25-14 win. Paige Williams took over for a span during the spurt, tallying three kills and a block after recording just one kill prior to the final set.
"Paige is one of those players who's so dynamic and so good defensively. She hits a hard ball that's hard to stop," Schisler said.
"We've got to create our own energy, and we have a lot of fun out there when we do," she added. "I saw more intensity tonight, and it was a tough atmosphere to play in, so that was important too."
For Meagan Thompson's club, the team took the court with heavy hearts following the passing of Kyler Williams last weekend. She was proud, though, of the effort in the first set, and added the recent events have brought her team closer and provided some perspective.
"I feel like our girls had a fire under them and were ready to play given everything that's happened," Thompson said of Springdale's early play. "They played with a lot of purpose and belief, and when we play as a team everything falls into place. Overall, when that happens we play really well."
The Lady Red'Dogs host Bentonville West next Tuesday, while Har-Ber will travel south for the Fort Smith Invitational this weekend.
Fayetteville def. Bentonville West 3-0
Faith Waitsman had nine kills and four blocks, while Haley Warner added six kills and eight blocks as Fayetteville rolled to a 25-12, 25-6, 25-2 win over West in Wolverine Gymnasium.
Ella May Powell added 19 assists and six aces for the Lady Purple'Dogs (21-6, 8-1 7A-West), while Olivia Wales chipped in 11 digs and 4 aces and Abbie Kathol contributed seven digs and four aces.
Rogers High def. Rogers Heritage 3-0
Emily Harris, Hannah Martin and Kassidy Wall combined for 21 kills to lead Rogers High to a 25-13, 25-12, 25-18 win over Rogers High in 7A-West Conference play Tuesday in King Arena.
Harris had a team-high eight kills and three blocks, while Wall chipped in seven kills. Martin added six kills and three blocks. Senior setter Madison Sherrill contributed 18 assists and 14 digs for the Lady Mounties (14-10, 5-4 7A-West). Catie Stacy led with three aces.
Lora Browna and Hope Von Gremp led Heritage (1-14-1, 0-9) with three kills each, while Kelsey Chloe added two blocks.
Bentonville High def. Van Buren 3-0
Emma Palasak recorded 16 kills and eight digs as Bentonville claimed a 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 victory in 7A-West play at Van Buren.
Savanna Riney and Tymber Riley each added eight kills for the Lady Tigers (14-10, 6-3), while Riley had 11 digs. Tori Lowry had 20 digs and three aces while Baylee Barganier added 38 assists and three aces.
Sports on 09/30/2016