Lady Panthers fall to CAC

By Julie Storing
UCA sportswriting

GREENBRIER—The Greenbrier Lady Panthers lost to the Central Arkansas Christian Lady Mustangs in a four-game 5A-West volleyball conference match on Tuesday, 25-18, 25-9, 23-25, 25-21, at the Panther Pavillion.

The loss puts the Lady Panthers 3-3 in conference play and 8-5 overall.

Greenbrier coach Cindy Hartman said that the Lady Panthers’ problems came from their poor passing and lack of momentum.

“Our passing was not very good,” Hartman said. “Our reaction time was very slow. We struggled with the passing, and it’s usually one of our strengths. It took us Game 3 to get any momentum, and in volleyball, momentum is everything.”

Game 1 started with a kill by senior Kalea Hogg before CAC took control of the match. The Lady Mustangs served five aces against Greenbrier, and despite an ace and a kill from senior Summer Richard, the Lady Panthers were never able to commandeer the game.

“We couldn’t pull it together,” sophomore Hannah Porter said. “We didn’t have a good attitude.”

The Lady Panthers suffered another setback when Richard was removed at the beginning of Game 2 after she hyperextended her knee while delivering a kill. Before exiting the match, Richard executed three kills and three blocks.

“We are going to evaluate her injury,” Hartman said. “It hurt us having her out of the match.”

CAC took advantage of the loss of Richard and pummeled Greenbrier’s fledgling defense. CAC served 10 consecutive times to grab an early lead of 17-5 before the Lady Panthers tried to reinvigorate the offense with a tip by junior Joy Vaillancourt and a block by senior Janessa Richards.

Their attempt was quick and unsuccessful as CAC gained control of the ball and finished the game.

“Everyone fell apart,” Richards said. “We weren’t having any fun. We were all mad at each other and wanting to blame everyone else.”

Game 3 showed a change in both the Greenbrier offense and defense. Junior Jessica Nichols served an ace, and junior Kayla Waters spiked the ball to put Greenbrier in the lead.

Junior Morgan Colclasure served five consecutive times to further their lead to 17-12. CAC attempted to fight back and even tied the game 23-23, but the Lady Panthers claimed the game with a kill by senior Brittany Edwards and a block by Richards.
Greenbrier took the lead early in Game 4 but lost their momentum later.

Richards and Hogg both served aces while Waters contributed three kills to keep the score close. After CAC tied the game at 20-20, the Lady Mustangs swiftly took control of their momentum and finished the game.

Hogg completed the match with six kills and three blocks. Waters executed thirteen kills, and Richards contributed seven kills. Edwards finished the game with eight digs.

Despite the loss, Hartman said that the Lady Panthers will regain their spark for their next match.

“One of the things the girls have to do is keep their spirits up,” she said. “They want to go to state, and we have to be there both physically and mentally.”

The Lady Panthers will go on the road to play the Alma Lady Airedales in another conference match on Thursday, Sept. 24.