Coverage presented by Arkansas Select Volleyball.
HOT SPRINGS — The Mansfield redemption tour ended with a Class 3A state championship Saturday night at Bank OZK Arena.
The Lady Tigers (33-6), who were knocked out in the Class 3A quarterfinals by Harrisburg a year ago — in their first year in 3A — won their fifth state title in the past six years, adding a 3A title to go with the four 2A titles they won from 2020-2023, knocking off Harding Academy 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 13-25, 26-24).
“Everyone doubted us because we always won 2A and now we wanted to put up a 3A banner because it hadn’t been done since I was in school,” said Mansfield head coach Kaylie Pyles. “Going for four straight and getting knocked out in the quarterfinals was a big deal and then we faced Harrisburg again and we said, ‘They’re not going to get us again.’”
Harding Academy head coach Matt Francis was proud of his team, but left Hot Springs with disappointment, knowing that his team had a chance to win the three sets his team lost. “I take full responsibility for that,” said Francis. “These kids have been awesome all year, showed a lot of battle in that third set and fourth set, hurts when you have seven seniors It’s going to take a while to swallow it, but I couldn’t be prouder of this group.”
The Lady Wildcats end the season at 21-5.
The first set featured four ties and three lead changes with Mansfield overcoming a 9-3 deficit before tying the match at 13-13. The set went down to the wire with Harding Academy closing a 23-20 deficit to 23-22 on kills by Macy Turner and Bynlee Reeves before Abby Smith had a kill and Bailey Quick had an ace to end the match.
The second set featured nine ties and six lead changes. Tied at 19, Mansfield scored five consecutive points thanks to two errors by Harding Academy and kills by Danielle Lowery and Miley Clopton and an ace by Clopton before Harding Academy’s Brynlee Reeves had a kill and Gabby Metheny had an ace to close it to 24-22. An attack by Harding Academy went wide and Harding won the set 25-22.
Harding broke open the third set that was tied 6-6 by going on a 11-2 run to lead 17-8 before winning the third set 25-13.
Harding continued that momentum in the fourth set, going on a 10-2 run, turning an 8-4 deficit into a 14-10 lead before Mansfield tied the match at 15-15 with Kaylee Ward contributing three kills in that stretch. Mansfield trailed 20-19 before going on a 5-1 run. Harding Academy pulled even at 24-24 on a kill by Kayson Reeves and a kill by Brynlee Reeves. After Brynlee Reeves’ attack went into the net, Ward finished the match for Mansfield, starting a celebration on their side of the court.
Pyles said she had to assure her team in those third and fourth sets to stay calm despite Harding Academy’s rallies.
“I told them, we’re up 2-1 and to stay calm and go get the ball because there’s nothing to worry about,” said Pyles. “Every time I came in the huddle, I told there is nothing to lose, stay calm and put the ball down.”
Mansfield was led by Ward, who was named star tournament MVP with 19 kills and 8 digs.
“Her play tonight, she was phenomenal, she was a force at the net and encouraging her teammates,” said Pyles of Ward. “She had lots of kills, was great defensively and had a great jump serve.”
Miley Clopton and 12 kills and 20 digs. Estep had 20 assists and Kerrington Quick had 15 assists.
Ellie Morgan led Harding Academy with 19 kills and 11 digs. Kayson Reeves had 12 kills and 4 digs. Kennedy Lovin had 44 assists. Brynlee Reeves had 13 digs and Gabby Metheny had 13 digs.
For Pyles, she was proud of the effort her team displayed in bringing the state championship trophy back to Mansfield. “Harding gave us everything they had and they are a phenomenal team,” said. “We knew that, they’re going to make you earn it and we had to go out and give everything you have,”
Francis said while the loss stings, it doesn’t take away from the fact his team won the regional tournament and made Ito the state finals.
“Give a lot of credit to Mansfield, they are tough to beat,” he said.
