CONWAY -- The quirky fit of Russellville and the East All-Star volleyball team made a difference again.
A former Cyclone was named most valuable player for the second consecutive year as the East won the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star matchup 3-2 Wednesday night at the Farris Center.
The East, led by the play of match MVP Ashton Sitkowski of Russellville, won for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in the past six years.
"Ashton is a phenomenal player who can play all over the court,'' East assistant Lisa Beasley of Marion said. "She brings a lot to the game."
Russellville's Hunter Eshaur was last year's MVP.
The East lost the first set 25-23, then rolled 25-13, 25-19, 25-13 to clinch the match. A fifth set was played, which the West took 15-3.
"It was a matter of kids getting the nerves out of the way, and meshing and relaxing and playing the game they love,'' Beasley said.
Sitkowski, who is headed to Hendrix College, finished with 17 kills and 6 digs. Libero Diane Phillips from Marion had 31 of the East's 82 digs.
"So many of them did a good job," said Beasley, who was named AHSCA coach of the year. "They just needed to get a little enthusiasm and motivation."
The West led 12-5 in the third set of 1-1 match and looked like it might end the East streak but could not put the game away, thanks in part to Phillips' 14 digs and Sitkowski's seven kills.
Phillips, who has signed with Arkansas State, was named the East's MVP.
Arkansas Razorbacks signee Reagan Robinson from Shiloh Christian was named the West MVP. She finished with 17 kills and 11 digs. MaKenna Hudson of Paris had 25 assists and nine digs.
Britney Sahlmann of Bryant had 15 assists for the East, Caroline Parker of Harrisburg had 11 assists and 5 digs and Erin Poppleton of Brookland had 10 assists and 5 digs.
All-Star schedule
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
TUESDAY
BASEBALL East 3-13, West 1-13
SOFTBALL East 6-12, West 2-6
WEDNESDAY
GIRLS SOCCER East 3, West 1
BOYS SOCCER West 2, East 1
VOLLEYBALL East 3, West 2
TONIGHT
GIRLS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY
FOOTBALL Estes Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sports on 06/23/2016