Gravette loses close match to Farmington

After multiple ties in game three, match decided in close fourth game

Gravette's Monica White goes up for the kill in Thursday's game against Farmington. The two teams played a close match, with the victor decided in game four.
Gravette's Monica White goes up for the kill in Thursday's game against Farmington. The two teams played a close match, with the victor decided in game four.

— In a decisive fourth game, Farmington broke away from a 17-all tie to engineer a 25-21 win and take the match three-games-to-one against the hometown Lions.

The teams were well matched but Gravette seemed to tire in the end and the Farmington girls came alive in the last game, getting multiple kills by senior middle-hitter Breanna Jones.

“The setters did a great job placing the ball and getting the ball to Breanna every time she was ready to hit,” said Farmington volleyball coach Jessica Mc-Collough. “Breanna probably had the best game of her career that night. She hit the ball extremely well and was a big reason why we were successful.”

Gravette coach Robin Cannon said the Lions didn’t play their best volleyball against a good team like Farmington.

“To compete at their level, we have to play our best,” she said. “I don’t feel like we had the effort and focus needed to beat them.”

After Gravette won the first game, 25-22, Farmington won the second, 25-19. The third game was highly-contested, featuring multiple ties at 23, 24, 25 and 26 before Farmington prevailed 28-26. Cannon said the Lions stepped back a little after Farmington took the third set.

“They out-played us across the board,” she said. “We were not aggressiveand didn’t make the plays we needed to, especially in the third and fourth set.”

McCollough said winning the third game 28-26 was huge. “We were tied and winning that game swung the momentum in our favor. Our kids played extremely hard.”

Despite the loss, Cannon sees potential in the Lions. She said the Lions will be able to do some really good things down the stretch once they realize it takes a total team effort.

Gravette won the junior varsity match. After Farmington won the first game, 25-23, Gravette won the next two games, 25-21 and 15-10.

In junior high action, Farmington won in two games, 25-19 and 25-21.

Gentry Struggles

The Lady Pioneers had a tough last week, losing to Clarksville and Prairie Grove in away games 3-0.

“Both games were very competitive down to the final point,” Gentry coach Daren Ward said.

The girls played well in the Southwest (Missouri) High School Volleyfest Tournament on Saturday, beating Pea Ridge but losing to Cassville, Mo., and Crane, Mo., in close games.

“We are on the edge of a breakthrough win, but we need to take control at the end of these games when we have the momentum and close them out,” Ward said.

The girls were set to play Shiloh Christian in Gentry on Monday, Gravette in Gravette on Tuesday and Farmington in Gentry on Thursday.

Sports, Pages 9 on 09/21/2011