CLASS 5A SEMIFINALS

LR Christian sweeps to final

— Once Little Rock Christian got its act together Thursday, the Lady Warriors never looked back.

Little Rock Christian trailed Alma for the majority of the first game, but the Lady Warriors broke through and dominated the rest of the way en route to a 25-20, 25-11, 25-15 victory in the semifinals of the Class 5A state volleyball tournament at Panther Activity Center.

Little Rock Christian (36-4) scored four consecutive points to take a 23-19 lead in the first game.

The Lady Warriors never trailed in the second game, scoring the first nine points, and used a 7-0 run to move ahead 9-4 in the final game. They scored the final two points of the match on a kill by junior middle blocker Molli Pugh and an errant shot by Alma that sailed out of bounds.

“I just owe it all to passing,” Little Rock Coach Karen Schaedig said. “If we can’t pass, we can’t run our offense. Our girls were a little bit scared at the beginning, but then they stepped it up. The passing took over, and that’s what turned it around.”

Pugh led Little Rock Christian with 13 kills, and Schaedig’s daughter, junior outside hitter Markie Schaedig, had 10 kills, 18 digs and 6 service aces. Senior setter Sara Mitchell added 30 assists, 11 digs and 5 aces.

Little Rock Christian will make its first state championship game appearance when it faces Greenwood on Saturday afternoon in Conway. The Lady Warriors have advanced to the semifinals once previously.

“We’ve been to the state tournament 10 years in a row, so it’s about time central Arkansas gets noticed,” said Schaedig, who started the Lady Warriors’ volleyball program. “This is an excellent team, outstanding. It’s well-rounded - defense, offense - and I owe it all to their hard work.” GREENWOOD 3, HOT SPRINGS LAKESIDE 0

Sophomores Xandra Lock and Madison Gilliam combined for 21 kills and Gilliam had three aces to help Greenwood earn a 25-15, 25-11, 25-18 sweep against Hot Springs Lakeside.

Lock posted 13 kills and 15 digs, and Gilliam finished with 8 kills. Savannah Pinkston led Greenwood with 16 digs, and Kelly Morgan had 39 assists.

Greenwood advanced to the state championship game for the fifth time in six years. The Lady Bulldogs lost to Siloam Springs in the title game each year in 2006-2009 and lost in the first round last year.

Sports, Pages 25 on 10/28/2011

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