PREP TENNIS
Los defeated in 6A tennis finals
Siloam Springs boys singles tennis player Orest Los advanced to the Class 6A state boys tennis championship Tuesday where he was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by West Memphis' Carlson Bennage at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
Los was the second Siloam Springs boys singles player to reach the finals in the last three years. He finished the season with a record of 16-6 and 56-14 for his career.
"Orest has had a terrific year," said Siloam Springs head coach Scott Wright. "Winning the conference championship and being the 6A state runner-up, he has a lot to be proud of. He has had a great career and still gets to compete in the state overall championship. I'm very proud of him."
Los, the 6A-West Conference champion and No. 1 seed, received a first-round bye before facing Billy Beck in the quarterfinals on Monday. He defeated Beck 6-4, 6-4 to move into Tuesday's semifinals where he defeated Jonesboro's Eric Richardson 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Bennage defeated Greenwood's David "Woody" Woodring in other semifinal. Los defeated Woodring to win the 6A-West title last week.
In girls' doubles' action, Siloam Springs seniors Caroline Dinger and Averie Headrick were defeated by Searcy's team of Margaret Lim and Alex Ann Threlkeld 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 on Monday in the opening round. Dinger and Headrick were the first Siloam Springs girls players to advance to the state tournament since 2013. They finished the season with a record of 9-10.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Four earn berths in Class 4A state tournament
LINCOLN -- Nine teams from the 4A-1 Conference competed in the district volleyball tournament hosted by Lincoln this week seeking to qualify for state competition.
Three of the league's four spots in the Class 4A state volleyball tournament were decided Monday. Pea Ridge became the last 4A-1 team to clinch after a 25-16, 25-13, 25-9 sweet of Gravette on Tuesday.
In Monday's opening match No. 8 West Fork needed five sets to defeat No. 9 Gentry (25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 19-26, 17-15). Gentry led 7-3 early in the first set before West Fork went on a 9-4 run to take the lead. There were five ties after that before West Fork took a 22-21 lead on on Sara Blackard's kill. Amy Greenlee served an ace and the Lady Tigers won 25-20.
Immediately following its win over the Lady Pioneers, West Fork faced No. 1 Shiloh Christian with the Lady Saints winning handily 25-11, 25-7, 25-9. Shiloh Christian's Lexi Richards pounded four kills and added a block-kill to pace Shiloh in a 25-7 second-set blow-out. The third set was not close after Alex Bottorff's ace gave Shiloh an early 6-4 lead. Kate Turpin served six consecutive aces to bring the Lady Saints to game-point at 24-9.
No. 2 Berryville swept Prairie Grove (25-22, 25-22, 25-13) and No. 3 Huntsville eliminated tournament host, No. 6 Lincoln (25-15, 25-15, 25-18).
After it's state clinching win, Pea Ridge did was no 4A team has been able to do this season -- take a set from Shiloh Christian. The Lady Blackhawks claimed a 25-22 win in game one of the first semifinal. The Lady Saints took care of business in the next three sets, 25-14, 25-8 and 25-17, to claim the match and a berth in Thursday's championship match.
"Our girls played really well, they came out focused," said Pea Ridge coach Jessica Woods. "They've never got to go to state, so they were really determined to win. Ours is a team of underclassmen. We don't have any seniors."
The first set was all Pea Ridge early. Junior Madison Mcguire had two aces and classmate Cassy Porter and sophomore Kynley Burton added kills as the Lady Blackhawks jumped out to a 7-3 lead.
Shiloh Christian coach Nathan Bodenstein called time-out with his squad trailing, 14-11, after another Burton kill.
"Where's your energy? Where's your energy?" Bodenstein asked in the huddle.
The Lady Saints couldn't get in rhythm. Each time they closed to within a point, they'd give a point back with a service error. Freshmen Josey Goldberg's kill from the back-row brought Pea Ridge to game-point at 24-22 and a strong Shiloh couldn't handle a strong hit by Pea Ridge junior Gabby Adams. The Lady Saints had four hits and lost the first set, 25-22.
They trailed early in the second set, 4-1, before using a 9-0 run to grab the lead. Shiloh Christian's Lexi Richards, who recorded 21 kills and 16 digs gave Pea Ridge trouble at the net with block-kills and her teammates, who didn't produce much of an attack in the first set, got going.
"Jessica Woods is a great coach. She always has a well-prepared team," Bodenstein said. "They are pretty young and they came out with a lot of energy. I'm happy with how we handled it after that first set."
The tournament wraps up Thursday with the consolation match scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the championship at 6:30 p.m.
-- Mark Humphrey
PREP BASKEBALL
Girls
Jasper 72, Nemo Vista 21
Jasper opened the regular season with a 51-point blowout as four players scored in double-figures.
Sierra Johnson led the way for Jasper (1-0) with 15 points. Emma Lewis added 12, Leah Shellnut 11 and Taylor Davidson 10.
JUNIOR HIGH VOLLEYBALL
Monday
Eighth Grade
Springdale Central def. Springdale Southwest 25-10, 25-15
Springdale Lakeside def. Springdale George 25-18, 23-25, 15-11
Rogers Elmwood def. Rogers Oakdale 25-14, 25-13
Ninth Grade
Springdale Southwest def. Springdale Central 25-19, 21-25, 15-13
Bentonville High def. Bentonville West 25-7, 25-17
Springdale George def. Springdale Lakeside 26-24, 25-18
Sports on 10/18/2017