Conway St. Joseph has been a contender in Class 3A volleyball for several years, but Luke Davis’ Lady Bulldogs will play this fall in the shadow of defending state champion Harding Academy.
St. Joseph finished 19-8 last year (11-3 in the 3A Central), runner-up to Harding Academy. But the Lady Bulldogs were eliminated in the first round of the state tournament, falling to Alpena in four games.
“I think we are all playing for second place behind Harding Academy,” said Davis, 100-21 in his first five seasons at St. Joseph. “They have the majority of their players back and will be very competitive. After that, it will be a very tight race for the 2 and 3 seeds for state.”
Besides St. Joseph and Harding Academy, the 3A Central includes Atkins, Conway Christian, Mayflower, Nemo Vista, Perryville, Riverview and Rose Bud.
The Lady Bulldogs return three junior starters: Meagan Briggler, a 5-8 outside hitter; Rachel Briggler, a 5-5 utility player; and Madison Seiter, a 5-7 utility player. Five more lettermen return: Linzy Hoelzeman, a 5-7 junior outside hitter; Sydney Spadlin, a 5-2 junior setter; Taylor Womack, a 5-8 junior middle; Madeline Moix, a 5-8 sophomore middle; and Holly Rega, a 5-7 sophomore utility player.
“Our numbers are down this year, but we are excited about the girls who are here,” Davis said. “With no seniors, we are going to have to find our identity very quickly. We need to find some leaders who are not scared to take some bumps, bruises and losses and pick this team up and get better every day.
“If we find that, I think we can be a good, scrappy team.”
Vilonia
Karla Ault’s Vilonia Lady Eagles are aiming for their third consecutive trip to the Class 5A State Tournament this fall.
Vilonia finished 16-11 overall last year, including a 7-5 mark in 5A Central play that put them third in the league. The Lady Eagles fell to Paragould in the opening round of the state tournament. Six starters return from that team, leading to an optimistic Ault, even as the Lady Eagles return to the 5A West this fall.
“With six returning starters, you can imagine that I have high expectations,” said Ault, in her 15th season as head of the Vilonia volleyball program. “I am expecting great team leadership from our seniors.”
Returning starters include Rebecca Brandon, a 6-foot senior middle blocker who led the Lady Eagles in kills and blocks last year; Ashlyn Hightower, a 6-0 senior middle blocker; Macie Loggins, a 5-6 senior setter who was second on the team in assists and serve percentage last year; McKenzie Morris, a 5-8 junior outside hitter who will be a big hitter for Vilonia this fall; Bailey Allen, a 5-8 junior who led the team in digs last year; and Hannah Schnebelen, a 5-5 junior defensive specialist.
Other returning lettermen include Jessica Stanley, a 5-7 junior outside hitter; Matison Martinez, a 5-7 junior middle blocker; Kyndal Clower, a 5-5 junior defensive specialist; Katie Gray, a 5-4 junior defensive specialist; and Laci Rios, a 5-5 senior defensive specialist who didn’t play last year but saw playing time as a sophomore.
The 5A West, which has been for several years arguably the best volleyball conference in Arkansas in any classification, is quite a bit different after reclassification. Siloam Springs and Greenwood, which combined eight state titles since 2001, have moved up — Siloam Springs to the 7A/6A West and Greenwood to the 7A/6A Central. Newcomers Clarksville and Shiloh Christian join Vilonia (which returns to the West after a stint in the Central), Alma, Greenbrier, Harrison, Huntsville and Morrilton.
“Being out of the conference for a couple of years, I’m not sure what to expect,” Ault said during the preseason. “I feel like if we play to our potential, we will be right in the mix. With Greenwood and Siloam out, it really changes the look of the conference.”
Greenbrier
With only one starter returning, Cindy Hartman is rebuilding in her 22nd season at Greenbrier.
The Lady Panthers are building around MacKenzie Neumeier, a 5-6 senior setter.
“We are a very young team,” Hartman said. “I am expecting MacKenzie to be a leader for the team, along with other seniors Lexi Livingston and Marlo Stacey.”
Returning lettermen include Livingston, a 5-4 senior setter; Stacey, a 5-2 senior who is expected by Hartman to be one of the team’s main defensive specialists; Makenzie Burrow, a 5-7 junior outside hitter; Hayley Heacox, a 5-8 junior outside hitter/middle; Haley Hilliard, a 5-2 junior outside hitter; Marissa Hollenbaugh, a 5-6 junior outside hitter/ middle; Courtney Madden, a 5-3 junior defensive specialist; Payton Starkey, a 5-6 junior setter; and Heather Wilcox, a 5-4 junior outside hitter.
Hartman said Madden would also be expected to anchor as a defensive specialist. The coach expects Hollenbaugh, Heacox and Burrow to step into major roles.
“Starkey, Wilcox and Hilliard are hard workers and will contribute both with leadership and on the court,” she said. “Sophomores Cameron Roberts, a 5-6 setter; Kenzie Batterton, a 6-0 middle blocker; and Savannah Baker, a 5-10 middle blocker, are expected to contribute on the varsity.”
The Lady Panthers finished 10-13 overall last year, 5-7 in the loaded 5A West, tying Morrilton for fourth but missing out on a state-tournament berth. Even after realignment — Greenwood, the defending state champion, and traditional power Siloam Springs moved up in classification — Hartman said she expects the West to be competitive with the addition of Vilonia (back from two years in the Central), Clarksville and Shiloh Christian. Alma, Harrison, Huntsville and Morrilton round out the league.
“Many of the teams in the conference have very experienced teams with very talented athletes,” Hartman said.
Perryville
Perryville has a new coach, one returning starter and two more returning lettermen, but Jerry Johnson hopes his Lady Mustangs can be competitive in the tough 3A Central.
“We are a young team with only three seniors,” Johnson said. “We look to be competitive and gain much-needed experience.”
Senior setter Rachel Runnels is Perryville’s only returning starter. Other returning lettermen are Lacey Drennan, a junior setter; and Tiffany Brucks, a junior outside hitter.
Johnson said his goal would be to finish among 3A Central’s top three and earn a berth to the state tournament, but with Harding Academy, the defending conference and state champion, and Conway St. Joseph, conference runner-up last year, his team will need to gel early.
Harding Academy will play host to the district tournament Oct. 22-23.