Gravette falls to Prairie Grove in tie-breaker set

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL
Gravette sophomore Drew Madison puts one over the net for the winning point in the first set of the Gravette-Prairie Grove match in Gravette on Thursday. Freshman setter Piper Batie stands at the ready to defend if Prairie Grove blocks the ball.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette sophomore Drew Madison puts one over the net for the winning point in the first set of the Gravette-Prairie Grove match in Gravette on Thursday. Freshman setter Piper Batie stands at the ready to defend if Prairie Grove blocks the ball.

GRAVETTE -- In a back-and-forth match against the Lady Tigers of Prairie Grove on Thursday, the Lady Lions took the first set with a narrow 25-23 score but then lost sets two and three by two and three-point margins.

In the fourth set, the Lady Lions won by nine points to tie the match at two games each. But, the tiebreaker went the other way, with Prairie Grove winning by two.

Set scores in the match were 25-23, 24-26, 22-25, 25-16 and 13-15.

Emma Kate Vertz played an important part in Prairie Grove's win.

"The impressive part, Emma Kate Vertz had a triple-double. She had 16 kills, 31 assists and 15 digs," said Prairie Grove coach Lindsey Biocic.

With the loss on Thursday, the Lady Lions were 13-3-2 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

Gravette was scheduled to host Ozark on Tuesday and travel to Shiloh Christian on Thursday for conference play.

photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette freshman Laney Chilton receives a Prairie Grove serve during play in Gravette on Thursday.
photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette junior Belen Nelson tips the ball over the net during play against Prairie Grove on Thursday in Gravette.
photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette sophomore Ella Pinches tips the ball over the net during play against Prairie Grove on Thursday in Gravette.
photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette juniors Keeley Elsea and Belen Nelson attempt to block a Prairie Grove return during play in Gravette on Thursday.
photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette junior Keeley Elsea sets the ball during play against Prairie Grove on Thursday in Gravette.
photo Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gravette freshman Piper Batie tips the ball over the net during play against Prairie Grove on Thursday in Gravette.