PEARCY — In most volleyball matches, each team has going to have times when they get on a roll. The key is to maximize your own and minimize your opponent’s. Sometimes it’s easier to do the former than it is the latter.
On Tuesday night, the Bryant Lady Hornets grabbed the lead in their 7A/6A-South match at Lake Hamilton but along the way, the Lady Wolves surged and the Lady Hornets could never quite get back on track, absorbing a tough 25-19, 22-25, 24-26, 17-25 loss.
In JV action, Bryant prevailed 25-21, 25-17.
“It was yet another hard fought game for us that turned out opposite of how we wanted,” said Lady Hornets coach Beth Solomon. “We just couldn’t get a rhythm going tonight. We won game one and then lost momentum in games two and three. During game three, we started to make a comeback and it really looked like we might pull off a victory, but it didn’t work out that way. We started game four on fire and pulled out to a six-point lead only to allow Lake Hamilton to come back and win the game.
“It was a game where I felt like we played like a young team,” she added. “We just couldn’t get a rhythm going and keep it together long enough to win a game after the first one. Part of it is being young, but part of it is simply being inconsistent. We rode the up and down rollercoaster again tonight.”
Allie Anderson led the Lady Hornets with 11 kills. Nikki Clay and Sierra Jones had five each. Britney Sahlmann contributed four aces at the service line to go with a kill and 22 assists.
Shayla McKissock led the team with three digs. Clay, Madison Greeno and Anderson each served up an ace.
“Britney Sahlmann had a good night,” Solomon stated. “She was putting the ball where it needed to be and making some very smart plays. Nikki Clay and Abby Staton both tried to step up their games tonight and be leaders on the court. Madison Greeno got to see her first varsity game of the season tonight and went in as a server for us. Madison did a great job.”
Greeno had just one error in six serves. Staton was good on all 13 of her serves. Sahlmann was 25 of 26 and Clay 14 of 15.
“We’re going to regroup and be ready for El Dorado on Thursday,” Solomon said, referring to her team’s next match at the Hornets Nest. “We need a victory and I think we can pull it off Thursday night if we will play together.”
In the JV match, Dejai Kelley came through with six kills and two blocks. Rylee Phillips knocked down five kills, Mariah Aguilar and Mercedes Dillard three each. Dillard led with five service aces while going 22 of 22 on her serves.
“Our JV pulled off another great victory,” Solomon said. “They worked hard and had some great plays. Kaci Squires was a great leader for us.
“Abby Staton and Mercedes Dillard both had to step in and play JV for us tonight due to injuries, but we’re hoping to have everyone back healthy and ready to play Thursday night,” she added. “Staton has been setting since Savannah Shelton had an ankle injury after our Sheridan game last Tuesday. Emily Henson went out tonight with a knee injury before the game.”
