Superior Siloam sweeps Lady Panthers

By Julie Storing
UCA sportswriting

GREENBRIER — The Greenbrier Lady Panthers suffered a crippling defeat to five-time defending state champion Siloam Springs in a three-game 5A-West conference volleyball match on Thursday, 25-12, 25-11, 25-18.

Greenbrier fell to 12-7 overall, 3-5 in conference play.

“The girls did what it takes,” Greenbrier coach Cindy Hartman said. “Siloam Springs has so many hitters that we just scrapped and did what we could do. It always helps us to play teams like that.”

In Game 1, Siloam Springs dominated Greenbrier with six consecutive serves before junior Kayla Waters spiked the ball for a point. Siloam Springs commanded the game once again with six consecutive serves before Waters tipped the ball for a point.
The remainder of Game 1 found Greenbrier unable to keep the ball for more than three serves. Waters and senior Kalea Hogg offered up two kills, but otherwise, the Greenbrier offense remained dormant as the game ended, 25-12.

Game 2 began with Siloam Springs running away with the lead early, and seven consecutive serves put Greenbrier down 16-4.
After a Lady Panther serve into the net, Hogg served five times to cut the lead to 17-8. Siloam Springs rallied again to increase its lead and end the game, 25-11.

Game 3 showed a change in the Lady Panthers’ mindset as they managed to stay closer in step with Siloam Springs.
Senior Janessa Richards delivered a kill, and junior Morgan Colclasure served an ace to put Greenbrier ahead 2-0. Siloam Springs regained the ball after junior Lizzy Briones spiked the ball for a point, but junior Jessica Nichols was quick to get a kill and reclaim the serve.

Trailing 9-8, Siloam Springs served eight consecutive times to gain a 16-9 lead. Junior Mackenzie Mallet served four times to catch Greenbrier up, 17-12, but Siloam Springs pulled further away.

With Siloam up 23-17, Mallet delivered the last kill for Greenbrier before the Lady Panthers tipped the ball and served an ace to claim the game and the match.

Despite the loss, Hogg said the Lady Panthers gained something from the match.

“You learn a lot by playing that team and losing rather than winning against a team that’s not as strong,” she said.

Senior Summer Richard said the Lady Panthers tried to stick together as a team despite Siloam Springs’ powerful hits.

“We just told everyone to stay together,” Richard said. “We’ve played them before, but it’s always hard to see the ball coming.”

Richards finished the game with three kills. Hogg delivered two kills and three digs. Mallet served one ace and added one kill.

Greenbrier will hit the road next to play Vilonia in a 5A-West conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 6.