LITTLE ROCK — MVP Megan Mathis made 18 kills - four during a key first-game outburst- in leading the Lady Blazers (28-4) to a 25-18, 25-12, 25-11 victory over the Lady Warriors (28-5) in the Class 4A state championship game.
Mathis, a 5-10 junior, also had 10 assists as Valley View won the 4A title for the second year in a row and its sixth title since 2004.
Valley View went through the state tournament without losing a game.
“Megan set the ball well, she hit the ball well and she blocked a couple of key shots,” Valley View Coach Margie McGee said. “Megan Mathis was a big part of our whole week. She stayed steady the whole time. She was really a definite force for us at the net.”
The two northeast Arkansas powerhouses, which have met in the championship game eight of the past nine years, appeared even for the first 25 points of the match, but Mathis and her powerful shots changed the tone of the match.
With Westside holding a 13-12 lead, Mathis helped the Lady Blazers score seven consecutive points.
“Once we got a lead, we got more comfortable with our abilities,” Mathis said. “Once we got the first 25 points over with, we weren’t going to let them have an advantage again.”
Senior Shelby Daniel added 10 kills and had a team-high 18 digs for Valley View. Junior setter Keely Caldwell led the Lady Blazers with 26 assists.
Sports, Pages 31 on 10/30/2011