RUSSELLVILLE — An inspired Russellville Lady Whirlwinds freshman volleyball team greeted the Bryant Lady Hornets freshmen Monday night and, with a 25-15, 25-20 win pulled even with them in the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference standings.
Both teams are 7-8 in league play, in the middle of the pack going into the final week of the regular season. Bryant travels to Cabot Red this Thursday then goes to Conway White on Monday, Oct. 17, to finish its slate of games. The Lady Hornets will host the conference tournament on Oct. 22.
“Russellville played really well,” said Bryant coach Lawrence Jefferson. “Coach (Cindy) Williams does an excellent job. She said her girls played their best match all year.
“We struggled on serve-receive, giving them 14 points without giving ourselves a chance to score,” he noted. “We only had nine kills for the match and we did not serve well. We gave them too many easy points only getting ¾ of our serves in play.”
Grace Sams had five of those kills. Grace Camferdam finished with two while Ashley Davis and Brooke Abney had one apiece. Truli Bates came through with six solo blocks.
Kalina Weaver, Lexi Brown and Meredith Medford each had three assists.
At the line, Kiarra Beard produced three aces. Sams and Medford had two each with Weaver, Davis and Brown adding one apiece.
Beard also led the team with nine digs.
“Truli did well on her blocks,” Jefferson said. “But we failed to capitalize on her blocking.”
