VIDEO: Bentonville coach grabs win No. 300

Lady Tigers sweep Fayetteville to take command of 7A-West

Bentonville's Savanna Riney (center) sends the ball over the net as Fayetteville's Amelia Whatley (6) and Lyndsey Mylius (8) defend Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, during play in Bulldog Arena in Fayetteville. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the match.
Bentonville's Savanna Riney (center) sends the ball over the net as Fayetteville's Amelia Whatley (6) and Lyndsey Mylius (8) defend Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, during play in Bulldog Arena in Fayetteville. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the match.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Bentonville dominated from the opening serve to sweep Fayetteville 25-19, 25-21, 25-21 on Tuesday. It was Lady Tigers' coach Michelle Smith's 300th career win, equaling the feat Lady Bulldogs coach Jessica Phelan achieved at Bentonville last season.

"Obviously, it feels good and it was a good win," Smith said. "It was fitting because Jessica got her 300th win at our place, and I got mine at her place. But to be honest, I didn't know it was coming up. I don't focus on those things. Just focus on my team and getting better and what we need to accomplish on our side of the net."

Bentonville (19-3, 8-0) accomplished pretty much whatever it wanted against the two-time defending state champions, who appeared out of sync. In the first set, the Lady Tigers broke a 5-5 tie with an 8-1 run behind a pair of kills and a block by sophomore Savanna Riney. They then staved off a late Lady Bulldogs' (15-8, 6-2) rally attempt.

"They handled the pressure of a big road game really well," Phelan said. "And we looked like the nervous team at the beginning of the game and made our share of unforced errors tonight, but Bentonville forces you into those."

"They're a senior-laiden team and coach Smith always has her kids ready to play."

In the third set, the Lady Bulldogs lead by as many as four points before the Lady Tigers came charging back. They finished off the set and the match with a 6-1 run after Fayetteville took a 20-19 lead on kill by Amelia Whatley, who finished with five kills.

Smith agreed with Phelan by saying her seniors remained composed, especially after digging an early hole in the third set.

"I think being up 2-0, that third set is do or die for both teams," Smith said. "We knew it was going to be tough and it still could have went either way at that point when you have two good teams going at it like this."

Bentonville's Emma Palasak let out a "booyah!" after one of the more crucial of her team-high 13 kills. She also had 12 digs. Baylee Barganier had a team-high 27 assists and Riney led the defense with five blocks.

Fayetteville's Haley Warner led the team with 14 kills while Emma May Powell had 9 kills and 14 assists. Carley Galloway had 13 digs.

Springdale Har-Ber 3, Rogers High 2

The Lady Wildcats road the big 1-2 punch of Lauren Thompson and Jayci Carpenter to roar back from a 2-0 deficit to claim the 3-2 (25-27, 21-25, 25-8, 25-13, 15-8) win over Rogers High at King Arena.

Har-Ber (16-6, 6-2 7A-West) got a match-high 21 kills from Carpenter, while Thompson added 19 -- including five in the fifth set -- to go with 11 digs and four aces. The Lady Wildcats trailed only briefly in the final three sets to rally for the win. They used a 7-0 run to take a 7-1 lead in the fifth set and went on to the win.

Senior Kaitlyn Schemel also anchored the defemse with a team-high 15 digs for Har-Ber.

Kassidy Wall led Rogers (9-16, 2-6) with 12 kills, while Hannah Martin contributed 10 kills, 14 assists and four blocks. Makenna Bouma also had a match-high 19 digs and Maddie James added four blocks. Anna Randels chipps in eight kills and two aces.

Springdale High 3, Rogers Heritage 0

The Lady Red'Dogs opened the second half of 7A-West action with a sweep of Heritage Tuesday. The win pushed Springdale to 9-5-1 overall and 4-4 in league matches.

Springdale was led by KeKe Turner's 10 kills, two blocks and Jessie Davis' eight kills. After Heritage battled back to force a 22-22 tie in the third set, Turner delivered a booming kill to put Springdale back in control. Annalia Slater also pitched in a team-high 16 assists, and Kaleigh Breathitt had 30 digs.

Erica Reaser had a team-high 12 digs for Heritage and Lora Brown added five kills. Springdale returns to conference play Thursday at Springdale Har-Ber while Heritage hosts Rogers High.

Van Buren 3, Bentonville West 1

Kortney Puckett's 21 kills weren't enough for West as Van Buren claimed a 25-21, 25-27, 25-13, 25-23 victory over the Lady Wolverines in Wolverine Arena.

Grace Doolittle had 16 kills and Alex Dupree added 15 for Van Buren (9-8-1, 3-5), while Caroline Davis and Mikelle Porter had 20 and 19 assists, respectively, and Bailey Brooks had four blocks.

Winnie Spurlock had 27 assists for West (8-12, 3-5).

Shiloh Christian 3, Elkins 0

The Lady Saints won the program's 57th consecutive conference match 25-19, 25-10, 25-18.

Lexi Richards led the way with 13 kills and 12 digs for Shiloh Christian (10-7, 9-0 4A-1 Conference). Taylor Larson added 18 digs, Kassie Boyett served four aces and Hattie McDonald and Jenny Lantzch each had 24 assists.

Shiloh Christian will host Prairie Grove on Thursday.

Sports on 09/27/2017

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