Greenbrier volleyball knocks off Harrison

By Julie Storing
UCA sportswriting

GREENBRIER—The Greenbrier Lady Panthers defeated the Harrison Lady Goblins in a four-game volleyball match Thursday, 25-16, 25-16, 22-25, 25-16, at the Panther Pavilion.

The Lady Panthers are now 3-2 in 5A-West conference play and 8-4 overall.

Greenbrier coach Cindy Hartman said that the Lady Panthers started out slowly offensively but picked up the pace by the end of the first game.

“We had a hard time getting going,” Hartman said. “We struggled. After dropping one game, they picked up the momentum. Our setters did an awesome job. Kayla Waters is a good leader, and she’s very enthusiastic.”

Game 1 started out with two back-to-back kills by junior Waters. Harrison, however, was quick to take over the lead while Greenbrier seemed unable to return the ball. With the score 13-13, junior Morgan Colclasure served an ace and senior Janessa Richards executed a kill to give Greenbrier a boost.

Harrison once again attempted to take control of the game, but Richards closed the game with seven consecutive serves, including two aces.

Game 2 began with Greenbrier quickly nabbing the lead. Harrison managed to tie the game, 10-10, but after a few errors by the Lady Goblins, the Lady Panthers took control and won the game.

Game 3 showed a misstep in both the Lady Panthers’ offense and defense. After both teams failed to execute return hits, the score was tied 14-14 before Richards served two aces and Greenbrier took the lead. The game repeated with a back-and-forth of missed opportunities for both teams, but Harrison managed to secure the game.

Colclasure started Game 4 with an ace, and Richards served five consecutive times with four back-to-back aces to put Greenbrier up 8-3. The Greenbrier offense returned to form as junior Mackenzie Mallet, Richards and Junior Lauren Rose all executed kills to put Greenbrier up 14-11. Colclasure served two aces and Richards served six consecutive times with an ace to clinch the match.

Despite their victory, the Lady Panthers showed a few offensive weaknesses, and senior Brittany Edwards said that the team didn’t measure up to its usual standards.

“Overall, we did a good job, but we didn’t play to our full potential,” Edwards said. “We had good defense, but our offense was not as good. In the third game, we slipped up and let them sneak behind us. We didn’t play as a team. We were playing as individuals.”

Richards served 10 aces and delivered seven kills and four blocks in the match. Waters completed the match with 17 kills and seven digs. Senior Kalea Hogg delivered eight kills and six digs in the match.

Greenbrier faces a stiff test next week with matches against the two teams the Lady Panthers are tied with for third place in the conference — Central Arkansas Christian and Alma.

“Next week is big,” Hartman said. “We really have to win.”

The Lady Panthers will face CAC's Lady Mustangs on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Panther Pavilion with the junior varsity match set for 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow.