Coverage presented by Arkansas Select Volleyball.
6A
Preseason No. 1 Bentonville distinguished itself by winning its tournament, the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational with victories over Springdale Har-Ber and Cabot.
Tuesday, Bentonville heads to No. 5 Fort Smith Southside. A year ago, Bentonville defeated the Lady Mavericks 3-2 in the semifinals. Weeks earlier, the Lady Mavericks won a five-set match in the which the final set was decided 20-18.
1. BENTONVILLE (6-1)
Previous rank: No. 1
Last week: def. Rogers, 3-0. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: lost 2-1 to No. 6 Cabot; def. Greenbrier 2-0; def. Siloam Springs 2-0; def. No. 8 Bentonville West 2-0; def. No. 5 Springdale Har-Ber 2-0; def. No. 6 Cabot 2-1
This week: at No. 5 Fort Smith Southside Tuesday; vs. No. 6 Springdale Har-Ber, Thursday
Lady Tigers live up to their No. 1 ranking by beating three other ranked teams to win their tournament.
“It was exciting! We learned a lot about our team and areas we need to work on. But our girls showed so much grit. We went 5-1 on the day. Lost to Cabot in pool play but met them in the championship. I’m happy about our growth today and we have a big week ahead. It was a true team effort and they all were great today.” — Bentonville head coach Hannah Berry
2. CABOT (7-1)
Previous rank: No. 6
This week: def. Paragould 3-1; def. Batesville, 3-0; def. Pulaski Academy 3-0. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: def. No. 1 Bentonville 2-1; def. Greenbrier 2-0; def. Siloam Springs 2-1; def. No. 2 Conway 2-0; lost to No. 1 Bentonville 2-1
This week: at Jonesboro, Thursday
Lady Panthers show they’ll be a force to reckon with in 6A, defeating Conway and splitting with Bentonville.
“I’m really proud of the girls today. We like coming to this tournament because the competition is so good and it’s a good opportunity to see what you need to do before conference play. The girls did everything we asked them to do today, they made adjustments and we saw a lot of growth as a team. They worked hard. And we are really looking forward to the rest of the season.” — Cabot head coach Anna Robertson
3. CONWAY (5-2)
Previous rank: No. 2
Last week: def. Benton 3-0; def. No. 10 Fort Smith Northside 3-0. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: def. No. 8 Bentonville West 2-1; lost 2-1 to Greenwood, def. Blue Springs (Mo.) South 2-0; def. Farmington 2-1; lost to No. 6 Cabot 2-1
This week: at Brookland, Tuesday; vs. Little Rock Southwest, Thursday
As usual, Lady Cats open with a tough early-season schedule against six teams ranked in either 5A or 6A.
“We took on a great Farmington team who had some really strong hitters and were able to pull out the win to hang on and play Cabot in the semis. We had the lead early in the first two sets against Cabot but they were able to rally back and finish the sets. We have tried several different lineups this tournament to try and see who would excel in certain positions. This is a great tournament to be able to play in early because the competition is always so strong and it really helps you see what you need to be working on before you start conference play. We will focus on blocking and being able to execute points from our attackers in practice this week.” — Conway head coach Laura Crow
4. FAYETTEVILLE (1-1)
Previous rank: No. 3
Last week: def. Greenwood 3-0; lost 3-1 to Nixa (Mo.)
This week: at No. 8 Bentonville West, Tuesday; vs. Rogers, Thursday
Lady Bulldogs fall to a team that went 32-4 a year ago in Missouri. Piper Batie had 26 kills in both matches. Molly Miller had 49 assists in both matches.
5. FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE (2-0)
Previous rank: No. 4
Last week: def. Van Buren 3-0; def. No. 6 Springdale Har-Ber 3-1
This week: vs. No. 1 Bentonville, Tuesday; at Rogers Heritage, Thursday.
Ella Shelby hits the 1,000-career dig mark. Big early showdown as Lady Mavericks host Bentonville.
“We start the conference season off this year with a tough Har-Ber team followed by a tough Bentonville team. These early tests are showing us where we need to work most! We are young and scrappy. We know every team we face in 6A West is well coached and prepared. Bentonville is a great team and I know we will have a good game on our hands and an opportunity to get better.” — Fort Smith Southside head coach Natalie Throneberry.
6. SPRINGDALE HAR-BER (3-3)
Previous rank: No. 5
This week: def. Greenwood, 3-1; lost 3-1 to No. 5 Fort Smith Southside Thursday. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: lost 2-1 to Shiloh Christian; def. Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo 2-1; beat Farmington 2-1; lost 2-0 to No. 1 Bentonville
This week: vs. Springdale Tuesday; at No. 1 Bentonville Thursday
Lady Wildcats win their pool and get into the gold bracket before falling to Bentonville while setter Reese Davis rests an injured knee.
“We had to run a new lineup all day today due to injury and some kids being out for different reasons. I was so proud of our kids response to Thursday night, their discipline and competitiveness today, and how much they grew regardless of lineup. We keep preaching one day at a time and to keep trusting the process to continue to grow, and we did that today!” — Springdale Har-Ber head coach Cassie Loyd
7. LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL (2-0)
Previous rank: No. 7
This week: def. Greenbrier 3-1; def. Hot Springs Lakeside 3-0
This week: at North Little Rock, Thursday
Lady Tigers handle two ranked teams in 5A. Jackson Jersey hit .326 vs. Greenbrier and .486 vs. Lakeside. Jaxon Jersey had 40 kills in both matches. Sydney Crowder had 39 assists vs. Greenbrier.
8. BENTONVILLE WEST (4-2)
Previous rank: No. 8
This week: def. Van Buren 3-2; def. Rogers Heritage, 3-0; at Bentonville Early Bird Invitational Saturday: lost 2-1 to No. 2 Conway, def. Greenwood 2-1; def. Blue Springs (Mo.) South 2-0; lost 2-0 to No. 1 Bentonville
This week: vs. No. 4 Fayetteville, Tuesday; at Springdale, Thursday
Lady Wolverines go 2-2 in the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational.
“Our team finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. We played at a very high level, highlighted by our ability to spread the offense and utilize all of our hitters. It was a true team effort, and we’re pleased with our Week 1 performances to start the season. We’re looking forward to building on this and continuing to grow and improve as a team.” — Bentonville West head coach Britney Davis.
9. BRYANT (1-1)
Previous rank: No. 9
This week: def. Hot Springs Lakeside 3-1; lost 3-1 to Benton
This week: vs. Baptist Prep, Tuesday; at Pulaski Academy, Thursday
Breanna Williamson had 42 digs as the Lady Hornets split matches vs. 5A schools. Taylor Lease had 22 kills in both matches.
10. FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE (2-1)
Previous rank: No. 10
This week: def. Shiloh Christian 3-2; lost 3-0 to No. 2 Conway; def Springdale 3-1
This week: at Rogers, Tuesday; at Greenwood, Thursday
Sophomore Jaliyah Freeman-Rhone has 12 kills, 11 digs and 13 assists against Shiloh Christian. Carolyn McKinney has 36 kills. Freshman Paisley Hogan has 11 blocks. Eden Fields has 57 digs and Kamdyn Fleming has 67 assists.
5A
Valley View remains undefeated and holds down the top spot while Marion and Benton stay at No. 2 and No. 3.
Benton was swept at Conway with Bella Gonzalez out with a fever while Marion lost to Collierville (Tenn.), which is 8-3.
Greenwood and Farmington make big moves up after their play at the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational.
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CLASS 5A
1. VALLEY VIEW (2-0)
Previous rank: No. 1
This week: def. Brookland, 3-0; def. Batesville 3-1
This week: vs. Paragould, Tuesday; at Houston (Tenn.); Thursday; at Little Rock Spikefest, Saturday: vs. North Little Rock, vs. Paris
Lady Blazers get revenge for a pair of losses to Brookland a year ago.
2. MARION (2-1)
Previous rank: No. 2
Last week: def. Wynne 3-0; lost 3-1 to Collierville (Tenn.); def. Greene County Tech 3-0
This week: vs. Nettleton, Tuesday; at Batesville, Thursday; at River City Classic, Bartlett, Tenn. Friday-Saturday (vs. Arlington, Tenn., vs. Good Pasture (Tenn.); vs. St. Mary’s Episcopal (Tenn.)
Kennedy Bullins had 28 kills 5 aces and 8 blocks in three matches while Kendall Brown had 33 kills, 23 digs and 6 blocks.
3. BENTON (1-1)
Previous rank: No. 3
Last week: lost to Conway 3-0; def. Bryant 3-1
This week: vs. Sheridan, Thursday
Lady Panthers were missing Isabella Gonzalez vs. Benton while she was sick. Gonzalez returned against Bryant and had 13 kills, 14 digs and 1 ace.
4. MOUNT ST. MARY (2-1)
Previous rank: No. 5
Last week: lost 3-0 to Pulaski Academy; def. Maumelle 3-0; def. Little Rock Parkview 3-0
This week: at Greenbrier, Tuesday; at Jacksonville, Thursday; Little Rock Spikefest, Saturday (vs. Ozark, vs. Harrisburg, vs. Greene County Tech)
Belles overcome season-opening loss to Pulaski Academy with two 5A-Central victories. Tavel to Greenbrier, who edged them for conference title last year on Tuesday.
5 GREENWOOD (4-4)
Previous rank: No. 7
Last week: lost 3-1 to Fayetteville Monday; lost 3-1 to Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: def. Conway 2-1; lost 2-1 to Bentonville West, def. Blue Springs (Mo.) South) 2-0; def. Greenwood 2-0; def. Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo 2-0; lost 2-0 to Blue Springs (Mo) South for the silver bracket.
This week: vs. Fort Smith Northside Thursday
Lady Bulldogs lose three matches to 6A teams. However, they go 4-2 at the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational with a victory over Conway in pool play.
“Going 4-2 was probably our best showing ever at the Bentonville tournament and we have been coming to this tournament for years. I have a young team that showed some major growth in our 6 games today. We did a great job of competing and we are continuing to take big steps in the right direction.” — Greenwood head coach Jennifer Golden
6. FARMINGTON (4-2)
Previous rank: No. 9
Last week: def. Huntsville 3-0; def. Berryville 3-0. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational: lost 2-1 Springdale Har-Ber, def. No. 4 Shiloh Christian 2-0; def. Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo 2-0; lost 2-1 to Conway
This week: vs. Paris, Tuesday; at Hackett, Thursday
Lady Cardinals knock off defending 5A champion Shiloh Christian in the Bentonville Early Bird Invitational. This week they face the defending 3A and 2A champions.
7. SHILOH CHRISTIAN (2-4)
Previous rank: No. 4
Last week: lost to Fort Smith Northside, 3-2; def. Rogers 3-1. Bentonville Early Bird Invitational Saturday: def. Springdale Har-Ber 2-1; lost to Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo 2-0; lost to No. 9 Farmington 2-0; lost to Blue Springs (Mo.) South 2-1
This week: Rogers Heritage, Tuesday
Nathan Bodenstein has a young team, but is making sure they are battle tested with three matches against Class 6A teams in the first week.
“I’m proud of my team on how they battled in each match today in the tournament. We are getting a lot of great experience for my young players in a quick amount of time. Hopefully this will help them acclimate quickly and be ready for conference play in the next couple of weeks. I am also proud of how our seniors led and encouraged the team.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein
8. LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (3-0)
Previous rank: No. 10
Last week: def. Russellville 3-0; def. No. 6 Greenbrier, 3-2; def. Jacksonville 3-0
This week: vs. Sylvan Hills Tuesday
Sydney Lavender had 37 assists, 18 digs, 17 kills in victories over Russellville and Greenbrier. Sadie Costello had 16 kills and 22 digs against the Lady Panthers while Hope Miller had 19 assists and 11 digs.
9. HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE MTXE (1-2)
Previous rank: No. 8
Last week: lost 3-1 to at Bryant; def. Baptist Prep 3-2; lost 3-0 to Little Rock Central
This week: at Pulaski Academy, Tuesday; at White Hall, Thursday
Lady Rams overcome 2-1 deficit to beat Baptist Prep in five sets as London Jackson had 13 kills.
10. GREENE COUNTY TECH (1-1)
Previous rank: Unranked
Last week: def. Wynne 3-1; lost to No. 2 Marion 3-0.
This week: at Mountain Home Tuesday; vs. Nettleton Thursday; at Little Rock Spikefest: vs. Mount St. Mary, vs. Ozark; vs. Harrisburg
Golden Eagles have solid start to the season. Have some big matches at Spikefest.
DROPPED OUT
No. 6 Greenbrier
