BENTONVILLE — There’s a lot of sharing when it comes to the two teams vying for the Class 7A state volleyball championship today.
Bentonville and Fayetteville shared the 7A-West Conference title this fall. The two coaches — Bentonville’s Michelle Coens and Fayetteville’s Jessica Phelan — and their respective players share good friendships.
But there’s no sharing the coveted trophy both teams want when they meet at 3 p.m. in Tiger Arena. And there are no secrets to share between the two teams.
“There’s no mystery on the other side of the net,” Phelan said. “We have a lot of respect for Bentonville.
“We know we have to come out and play well. We just have to do what got us here.”
The two teams split their regular-season matches this fall, with the home team winning each time. The only difference was Fayetteville (32-3-3) won its match in three games while Bentonville needed four games, and that led to Fayetteville earning the 7A-West’s top seed in the state tournament.
“Both teams played great on its home floor,” Coens said. “We know Fayetteville and we love to play Fayetteville. It’s going to come down to which team wants it more.”
However, Bentonville has the edge of enjoying the comforts of its home court.
“We get to hang out in our own dressing room and play a match like this on our court,” Coens said. “That doesn’t come often. Sometimes, it only comes once in a lifetime.”
Meanwhile, Siloam Springs tries to extend its string of consecutive state championships to seven when it takes on Nettleton in the Class 5A title match at 11 a.m.
Nettleton has been in Siloam’s way on two occasions during the Lady Panthers title run. Siloam, however, won on both occasions, defeating Nettleton in a semifinal match in 2007 and in the quarterfinals the following year.
“They’re a very good team,” Siloam coach Rose Cheek said of the Lady Raiders. “They’re pretty balanced. They play really smart. I figure it’ll be a good match.
“I have a of respect for their coach (Vickie Gatewood). We’re going to have to work to win it. The East is very strong this year.”
Northwest also meets East in the Class 4A final as Shiloh Christian (26-4) takes on perennial powerhouse Valley View.
The Lady Saints, playing in their first state final, have overcome a lot of injuries this season to get there. Shiloh, however, welcomed Hannah West’s return from a broken foot during the state tournament.
“We’ve had four or five injuries,” Shiloh coach Karen Morris said. “We’ve had more on the volleyball team than the football team.
“Just working with the new rotations, it’s made us stronger. When Hannah came back, I think it made the others girls stronger.”
Today’s Ticket
Arkansas High School State Volleyball Championships
Tiger Arena, Bentonville
Class 5A: Nettleton vs. Siloam Springs, 11 a.m.
Class 6A: Marion vs. Van Buren, 1 p.m.
Class 7A: Bentonville vs. Fayetteville, 3 p.m.
Class 3A: Crowley’s Ridge Academy vs. Conway St. Joseph, 5 p.m.
Class 4A: Valley View vs. Shiloh Christian, 7 p.m.