CLASS 4A

Valley View takes care of its business

HOT SPRINGS -- Valley View has been here numerous times before, but the Lady Blazers didn't take it for granted.

Valley View was focused and relentless in the Class 4A state volleyball title game, never letting the Batesville Lady Pioneers get much offense going in a 25-12, 25-17, 25-13 sweep to capture their fourth consecutive title and 13th overall at Bank OZK Arena.

A few weeks ago, the Lady Blazers dropped a match to Paragould to serve as a wake-up call. Valley View (38-2) did not lose a set over its last eight matches.

"We lost that last set to Paragould 19-17 and gave them a lot of points on errors," Valley View Coach Margie McGee said. "The girls did not like that one bit, so they went to work in practice. They put the pressure on the backs and have played volleyball with those pressure situations. I couldn't be more proud of them."

The Lady Blazers have been led by their three seniors -- Abbigail McGee, Emily Grace Calhoon and Lexee Caldwell -- all season. After the match, McGee, who has signed to play for the University of Arkansas, was named MVP.

"I could not ask for better leadership than what we got from those three," said Coach McGee, the mother of Abbigail. "We had a group of seven juniors and eight sophomores, and those three put those younger kids on their backs and have shown them what it takes to not only get here but win the title. I am so proud of them, and we are certainly going to miss them."

For the Lady Pioneers (23-13), it was the third time in the past four years they have made it to the state championship match.

It was apparent from the start the Lady Blazers were on a mission as they scored the first three points and built a 7-1 lead on two kills each by Michayla Mears and Calhoon.

Alley Edwards' second kill for Batesville ended the Valley View run, but the Lady Pioneers could not score two in a row until they were trailing 12-5 and went on a 4-0 run, getting two kills from Taylor Griffin to cut the gap to 12-9. But Valley View finished the set with a 13-3 run, outscoring Batesville 8-1 after a kill by Griffin cut the gap to 17-11.

The Lady Pioneers kept it closer in the second set, using two service errors by the Lady Blazers, two kills and a block by Jalise Stewart, and three kills by Griffin to remain within striking distance. A kill by Edwards cut the gap to 14-12.

Abbigail McGee's younger sister, Gracie, went on a streak to kick-start an 11-5 run to finish the second game.

Valley View opened a 9-1 lead in the third set on a couple of kills each by Calhoon and Gracie McGee. Valley View went on to open up an 18-5 advantage, and the closest the Lady Pioneers got was 10 points.

Valley View finished with 38 kills and 7 blocks, led by Calhoon with 10 kills and a block.

Batesville had 20 kills and two blocks. Griffin led with seven kills..

Sports on 10/28/2018

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