Lady Lions outshine Lady Pioneers in final home battle of the season

October 12, 2021 at 8:41 a.m.

by Michael Eckels

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS As Jayden Reams (Gravette 12) hits the ball over the net, Reese Hester (Gentry 2) reacts to immediately intercept the ball, sending it back into Lady Lion territory during the third set of the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball contest in Gravette Thursday night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS As Jayden Reams (Gravette 12) hits the ball over the net, Reese Hester (Gentry 2) reacts to immediately intercept the ball, sending it back into Lady Lion territory during the third set of the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball contest in Gravette Thursday night.

GRAVETTE -- Lady Pioneer fans traveled up the Arkansas 59 corridor to Gravette for a conference showdown with the Lady Lions on Thursday. It was an epic struggle between the two rival teams but there could only be one winner.

Prior to the start of the varsity contest, the Lady Lions seniors were introduced to the many Gravette fans that filled the gym. Standing on the Gravette side of the court, Abby Smith, Layne Franks, Nicole Vogt and Jayden Reams, accompanied by their parents or another family member, received a standing ovation in honor of their years of service to the Gravette Lady Lion volleyball program.

After 10 minutes of warm-ups by both the Gravette and Gentry players, it was time for the battle to begin.

The Lady Lions, in the first few minutes of the first set, built a small lead over Gentry; but soon the Lady Pioneers regained their composure and came back to close the point gap.

After several long and exciting volleys between the two teams, the Lady Lions took set number one, 25-16.

The Lady Lions put up up three consecutive points before the Lady Pioneers picked up their first point in the second set. But the Gravette lead lasted only a short time before Gentry fought back and tied the contest at 12 all. On the next point, Gentry fired the ball past the Gravette players to gain the lead. The Lady Lions regained the lead for a short time before the Lady Pioneers came back once again to tie the match at 21 all.

But the momentum switched back in the Lady Lions' favor with four straight points to take the set, 25-21.

The Lady Lions dominated the third and final set claiming the win, 25-15, and the conference match in three straight sets over the Lady Pioneers.

The Lady Pioneers also fell in straight sets to the West Fork Tigers on Oct. 4 and to the Pea Ridge Blackhawks on Oct. 5. Set scores were not yet available to the Eagle Observer at press time.

Westside Eagle Observer?MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Reese Hester uses both hands to power the ball back over her head and into the Lady Lion side of the court during the Thursday night Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match in Gravette. In its final 2021 appearance in the Competition Gym in Gravette, the Lady Lions claimed the three set victory over the Lady Pioneers.
Westside Eagle Observer?MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Reese Hester uses both hands to power the ball back over her head and into the Lady Lion side of the court during the Thursday night Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match in Gravette. In its final 2021 appearance in the Competition Gym in Gravette, the Lady Lions claimed the three set victory over the Lady Pioneers.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Trinity Burnett (1) hits the deck as she manages to reach a low ball hit into the Lady Lion side of the court by a Lady Pioneer player during the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match in Gravette Friday night. In a miracle play, Burnett managed to hit the ball high enough for a teammate to intercept it and hit it back over the net into Lady Pioneer territory.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Trinity Burnett (1) hits the deck as she manages to reach a low ball hit into the Lady Lion side of the court by a Lady Pioneer player during the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match in Gravette Friday night. In a miracle play, Burnett managed to hit the ball high enough for a teammate to intercept it and hit it back over the net into Lady Pioneer territory.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Madison Voyles (Gentry 10) goes up in anticipation of a hit by Lady Lion Ella Pinches (17) during the third set of the Gravette-Gentry conference volleyball contest at the Competition Gym in Gravette Thursday night. Pinches managed to hit the ball past Voyles for a Lady Lion point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Madison Voyles (Gentry 10) goes up in anticipation of a hit by Lady Lion Ella Pinches (17) during the third set of the Gravette-Gentry conference volleyball contest at the Competition Gym in Gravette Thursday night. Pinches managed to hit the ball past Voyles for a Lady Lion point.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Lion Layne Franks (4) gets on one knee in order to reach a low ball during the Thursday night Gravette-Gentry volleyball match in the Competition Gym in Gravette. Franks managed to hit the ball back over the net and into Lady Pioneer territory.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Lion Layne Franks (4) gets on one knee in order to reach a low ball during the Thursday night Gravette-Gentry volleyball match in the Competition Gym in Gravette. Franks managed to hit the ball back over the net and into Lady Pioneer territory.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Liberty Brannon hits the ball back over the net into the Lady Lions side of the court during the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match at the Competition Gym in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions took the senior night contest in three sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-15 over the Lady Pioneers.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Pioneer Liberty Brannon hits the ball back over the net into the Lady Lions side of the court during the Gravette-Gentry varsity volleyball match at the Competition Gym in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions took the senior night contest in three sets, 25-16, 25-21, 25-15 over the Lady Pioneers.