Lady Lions give Lady Saints scare

Gravette's Lady Lions Volleyball team are shown with the runner-up plaque won in the District 4A-1 tournment held last week in Gravette. Coach Robin Cannon's girls finished with a 13-5 season record and are seeded number 2 in the Class 4A state tournament this week. Front row, left to right, Cassie Murray, Jessica Bayley, Whitney DeWitt, Shelby Frey, Kayla Harrelson, Amanda White, Rebecca Morris, Shyanne Nichols; second row, Nicole Springer, Adriana Olvera, Jacquelynn Janes, Kendra Meeker, Tanner Bryson, Kourtney Bunch, Rebekah Rambadt, Kelsey Gregory; back row, Eden Morris, Destany Wishon and Monica White.
Gravette's Lady Lions Volleyball team are shown with the runner-up plaque won in the District 4A-1 tournment held last week in Gravette. Coach Robin Cannon's girls finished with a 13-5 season record and are seeded number 2 in the Class 4A state tournament this week. Front row, left to right, Cassie Murray, Jessica Bayley, Whitney DeWitt, Shelby Frey, Kayla Harrelson, Amanda White, Rebecca Morris, Shyanne Nichols; second row, Nicole Springer, Adriana Olvera, Jacquelynn Janes, Kendra Meeker, Tanner Bryson, Kourtney Bunch, Rebekah Rambadt, Kelsey Gregory; back row, Eden Morris, Destany Wishon and Monica White.

— It appeared as if Shiloh Christian would cruise to its third sweep of the season over Gravette in the 4A-1 District Volleyball Tournament championship match.

Little did Shiloh Christian expect to be forced into holding off the Lady Lions in five sets, barely avoiding the upset 25-17, 25-19, 16-25, 25-27, 15-9.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd, Gravette (13-5) rallied down two sets to none, thanks to what coach Robin Cannon contributed to a lot of heart from her team.

“I knew we had it in us. We pulled together and worked really hard,” Cannon said. “Shiloh is such a great team, we could play with them.”

Gravette dominated the third set due to superb serving and blocking by junior middle blocker Monica White, but the fourth set was a different story.

Though the Lady Lions won the frame, 15 of their 27 points were scored due to Shiloh Christian errors.

Shiloh Christian coach Shyrah Perry told her team during the break that the only thing that matters is how they finish the match. The Lady Saints (25-7) had no trouble doing so.

“Our girls are so much better than they give themselves credit.” Perry said. “If they believe, they are really going to succeed.”

Shiloh Christian’s district championship claims it the No. 1 seed from the Northwest in the Class 4A State Volleyball Tournament in Jonesboro next week. The Lady Saints were to face the No. 1 team from the Central at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Valley View High School on Court 1.

Gravette earned the No. 2 seed from the Northwest and was to play at 4 p.m. on Court 2 (after press time).

Farmington 3 Prairie Grove 0

The Farmington Lady Cardinals had no problem sweeping Prairie Grove on Thursday 25-13, 25-20, 25-11 in the third-place match.

Senior Lexie Lewis led Farmington with 11 kills. Ashton Tidmore of Prairie Grove had seven.

With the victory, Farmington (16-4) will be the No. 3 seed from the Northwest in next week’s state tournament at Valley View High and will face the No. 2 seed from the Central. Prairie Grove (6-18) will take on the top-seeded Central school.

Sports, Pages 9 on 10/26/2011