CONWAY — Fort Smith Northside rallied from a 2-1 game deficit and then survived four match points to eliminate Mount St. Mary 3-2 in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 7A state volleyball tournament at Buzz Bolding Arena.
Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Knight registered 18 kills — including the matchclinching point — as the Lady Bears earned a 25-16, 17-25, 15-25, 25-22, 17-15 victory over the Belles.
Northside (19-15) also overcame an illegal substition penalty and an uncontested net violation early in Game 5 to earn its first state tournament victory since 2006.
“Northside has been notorious for shooting itself in the foot,” Lady Bears Coach Kelsey Karber said. “Other teams would let us lose the game, let us make the mistakes. But today, we remained strong and mentally sound. I’m very proud of them.”
Northside will play 7A- West champion Fayetteville in today’s quarterfinals.
Mount St. Mary (21-11) led 14-11 in the final game before the Lady Bears staged their final rally, which included an ace from sophomore Merit Jennings.
“We felt it slipping away,” Mount St. Mary Coach Kelly O’Rourke said. “The momentum totally shifted, and we couldn’t get it back.”
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 3,
LITTLE ROCK HALL 0
Sophomore middle hitter Drew Jones made 11 kills — nine in the first game — and junior libero Kylie Ballard served five aces as the Confederettes (26-9) routed the Lady Warriors (6-9) 25-4, 25-11, 25-12.
Southside advances to play Bryant in today’s quarterfinals.
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 3, WEST MEMPHIS 0
Senior middle hitter Summer Morgan made 12 kills as the Lady Wildcats (22-13) rolled to a 25-13, 25-11, 25-8 victory over the Lady Blue Devils (10-17) Har-Ber, which will play host Conway in today’s quarterfinals, served up 19 aces Tuesday, including five from senior setter Kelsey Odell. Senior Katie Huff added nine kills for Har-Ber. Senior Kiara Adams led West Memphis with five kills.
ROGERS 3, NORTH LITTLE ROCK 0
Senior outside hitter Mikalah Booher had 15 kills and the Lady Mounties (10-20) won Tuesday’s late game to give the 7A-West a perfect 4-0 record after the first day of state tournament play.
Sports, Pages 26 on 10/26/2011