Sick Lady Panthers fall to Greenwood

By Julie Storing
UCA sportswriting

GREENBRIER — With five of the Lady Panthers stricken with swine flu, a weakened Greenbrier lost to the Greenwood Lady Bulldogs in a three-game 5A-West conference volleyball match on Thursday, 25-15, 25-12, 25-23.

Greenbrier fell to 12-9 overall, 3-7 in conference.

The illness hit the Lady Panthers early this week when three of their starters were out of the match against Vilonia. Greenbrier lost to Vilonia in a three-game match, 25-18, 25-19, 25-23.

Senior Kayla Waters was one of the players missing Thursday, and Greenbrier coach Cindy Hartman said the offense suffered without her.

“Losing her is like losing your quarterback,” Hartman said. “She usually has more than eight kills in each match.”

Greenwood capitalized early on Greenbrier’s patchwork team in Game 1 and served six straight times to grab the lead at 8-2.
Senior Kalea Hogg—one of the only starters not afflicted—delivered a kill, but Greenbrier’s offense remained sluggish and unorganized.

While Hogg, senior Janessa Richards and junior Mackenzie Mallett each offered kills to keep Greenbrier alive, Greenwood continued to dominate until burying the Lady Panthers, 25-15.

The Lady Panthers also got off to a slow start in Game 2 with the team falling behind quickly and never gaining any momentum.

Senior Summer Richard, Hogg, and Mallett recorded the only kills in the game. Except for a tip by sophomore Samantha Tillman, Greenbrier’s remaining points resulted from Greenwood’s offensive errors.

Game 3 showed much improvement in the Lady Panthers as they managed to stay in step with Greenwood.

“We didn’t wake up until Game 3,” Richard said. “We played hard, and I thought we were going to win the game. We seemed tired but pushed through as a team.”

Greenbrier took the lead early in the game after junior Morgan Colclasure delivered a kill and Richard tipped the ball for a point.

Greenbrier retained a two-point lead over Greenwood as senior Brittany Edwards and Tillman contributed two kills, and Mallet served an ace.

Greenbrier continued to battle Greenwood, but the Lady Bulldogs tied it up 23-23 and quickly finished the game.

Despite the loss, Hartman said that a lot of the younger players gained important experience from contributing to the game.

“I was pleased with the ones that came out and played,” Hartman said. “I thought Bree Hill came in and did a good job. This a great experience for her. She really stepped up. They have a quick hit, and we did better with getting our hands on the ball.”

Hogg led the team with seven kills and one ace. Colclasure, Mallett and Richards each delivered two kills.

The Lady Panthers will next play in the Lady Cat Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. at Bob Courtway Middle School in Conway.