PRAIRIE GROVE -- Decatur performed better as Thursday's volleyball match progressed, but their inexperience was exposed against Prairie Grove, with the Lady Tigers producing a 3-0 sweep.
Prairie Grove won in three straight sets, 25-9, 25-24 and 25-17. The Lady Tigers dominated the first set, winning 25-9. Senior Ashlynn Smith contributed four aces and served the final five points.
Decatur made a little noise in the second set using a mini-run after Prairie Grove built a 15-8 lead, to trim the margin to 18-12. The Lady Bulldogs caught Prairie Grove off-guard with an early return to get a point. Then, after three-straight Lady Tiger points, Decatur sophomore Desi Meek set up senior Cameron Shaffer's kill that landed in the back-row, to begin a 3-0 run by the Lady Bulldogs. Meek pounded a hard hit into the back corner for another Decatur kill, and Shaffer served an ace to pull the Lady Bulldogs to within, 18-12. Prairie Grove ended the game on a 7-2 run fueled by consecutive aces from Alisan Alexander. Prairie Grove claimed the second set, 25-14, to go up 2-0.
Decatur played better in the third set, but still lost, 25-17.
Sports on 09/21/2016