Here they go again.
Bentonville and Fayetteville faced off in a grueling, five-set match to determine the Class 7A state volleyball championship one season ago.
In 2010, the Lady Tigers came out on top, edging the Lady Bulldogs by two points in a battle that went down to the wire. Now it’s time for the rematch.
When Bentonville and Fayetteville square off in today’s Class 7A state volleyball finals, there’ll be few secrets between the two teams. There’ll also be few surprises as both 7A-West Conference powers won in rather easy fashion to make their way back to center stage for this championship showdown.
The only difference, at least for Fayetteville, is a chance at revenge.
“We’ve been thinking about this all season long,” Fayetteville outside hitter Paige Gocke said. “Hopefully this time we’ll be able to come out on top instead of coming up two points short.”
Another difference from last year is the Lady Bulldogs run through the conference race. Last season, both teams split a share of the league crown before Bentonville broke the tie with the championship game victory.
But this season Fayetteville (34-1) has reeled off win after win, including a 2-0 mark against the Lady Tigers — in straight sets at Fayetteville and in four sets at Bentonville.
“We just need to come out and play our game,” Lady Tigers coach Michelle Smith said. “On any given day either team can beat either team. Both teams are great teams and we just need to come out and have confidence in ourselves.”
Fayetteville returned almost its entire roster from last year’s state runner-up team, while Bentonville (31-7) has worked its way back to the finals despite the loss of key championship game contributors.
Despite the rosters and past history, both sides expect another battle today.
“This is what our kids have worked all season for,” Fayetteville coach Jessica Phelan said. “Obviously our kids have played Bentonville twice, and we’re very familiar with their kids. But we just have to play our game and control our side of the net, and we’ll see what happens.”
At A Glance
State Prep Volleyball Tournaments
Class 7A at Conway
Tuesday’s Scores
Match 1: W5 Fort Smith Northside def. C4 Mount St. Mary, 3-2 (25-16, 17-25, 15-25, 25-22, 17-15)
Match 2: W3 Fort Smith Southside def. C6 Little Rock Hall, 3-0 (25-4, 25-11, 25-12).
Match 3: W4 Springdale Har-Ber def. C5 West Memphis, 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-8)
Match 4: W6 Rogers High def. C3 North Little Rock, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-20).
Wednesday’s Scores
Match 5: W1 Fayetteville def. Fort Smith Northside, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-15)
Match 6: Fort Smith Southside def. C2 Bryant def. 3-2, (21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-8, 15-12)
Match 7: C1 Conway def. Springdale Har-Ber, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-18)
Match 8: W2 Bentonville def. Rogers High, 3-0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-16)
Thursday’s Scores
Match 9: Fayetteville def. Fort Smith Southside, 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-14)
Match 10: Bentonville def. Conway, 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-12)
Saturday’s Championship Match
Match 11: Fayetteville vs. Bentonville