PRAIRIE GROVE - Gravette had Prairie Grove on the ropes, leading 2-0 with a 7-1 advantage in game-three, but the Sept. 27 volleyball match took a dramatic turn from that juncture.
Playing on the Lady Tigers' home court, Gravette found eliminating Prairie Grove was tricky. Hitting errors combined with a bad serve gave the Lady Tigers some life and four of the next five points. Cadi Williamson's ace drew Prairie Grove within, 8-6. Prairie Grove would eventually take the lead at 11-10 on Anna Kidd's soft kill, something that gave Gravette trouble throughout three successive losses in games three (25-23) and four (25-18) plus the tiebreaker (15-9).
Gravette coach Katie Collins lamented the Lady Lions' inability at times to react to well-placed finesse hits by Prairie Grove.
"We've got to dig tips," Collins said. "They killed us with tips. That's what it came down to, the lack of tips."
Prairie Grove continued their 15-4 rally, stretching their advantage to 16-11. Senior Riley Gerwig used her 6-feet-1 frame to survey the court, pushing the ball to an empty back corner for a kill. Ashlynn Smith served consecutive aces, then Kidd's block-kill concluded the run. Gravette rebounded to tie the set at 17-all on Stephanie Pinter's kill but then committed two hitting errors. Gerwig pounded another back-row kill courtesy of Kara Anderson and the Lady Tigers led, 20-18. Gravette was still in the game when a front line player with her back to the net stepped on the line. The penalty point went to Prairie Grove for a 23-19 lead and the Lady Tigers reached game-point on Kara Anderson's quick-kill catching Gravette off-guard on a second hit. The Lady Lions closed to within, 24-23, before a service error ended their rally with the third set going to Prairie Grove, 25-23.
The Lady Tigers never trailed in game-four although Gravette cut a 16-10 lead down to 17-16 with a 6-1 run. Hailee Gerner set for Misa Satchel, who delivered a kill, then a Prairie Grove dig went into the net; but Gravette was called on a fourth hit on the next volley, then couldn't recover from Gerwig's block at the net and fell behind, 19-16. Once more, during a crucial battle, the Lady Lions stepped across the line and Prairie Grove was awarded a point. The foot placement proved costly because Gerwig pounded another kill and thwarted a Satchel (dig), Gerner (set) and Pinter (hit) attack with a block-kill giving the Lady Tigers a 22-17 cushion. Gerwig deftly sent the ball to the back-row sending Gravette in a scramble. They couldn't come up with a third hit and Prairie Grove reached game-point, at 24-17. After a net serve, Gerwig polished off the set with a finesse kill. She hit the ball softly to her left going across her body past two blockers for a game-winning kill. Prairie Grove won game-four, 25-18, to force a tiebreaker.
Fans of both teams were on the edge of their seats. The gym was filled with cheers as the fifth set began. The teams traded blows like prize fighters trying to knock each other out. Gravette seized an early 5-3 lead on Satchel's block-kill but Prairie Grove scored six unanswered points, taking a 9-5 advantage as Gerwig did the same. Satchel elevated killing a Lady Tiger hit with a block. Again, Prairie Grove fashioned a 3-0 surge with Gerwig scoring off Kara Anderson's set to lead, 12-6. Pinter broke the run with a kill and Kailee Midyett served an ace for Gravette which closed to within, 13-8, after a long volley on a Lady Tiger hitting error. Prairie Grove closed out the set and match on a pair of Gerwig hits, the first for a soft kill and the second a power hit that forced Gravette into a bad sequence. The second hit went toward the Lady Lions' bench and they gave chase, but couldn't get a third hit over the net and lost, 15-9.
Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart noted this was the third time this season the Lady Tigers have competed in a five-set match and have won all three. Stewart said he felt like if they could just get through the fourth set, they would have a good opportunity to win in the fifth.
"Even though it looked like it at times, we were never out of the match," Stewart said. "If we can get sets to Riley Gerwig, I like our chances. She's one of the best there is."
In the first set, Gravette circumvented a Prairie Grove, 24-22, lead. Satchel's kill and a bad set by Prairie Grove allowed the Lady Lions back in the game. Allie Callahan's ace put Gravette ahead, 25-24, and the Lady Lions won when Satchel beat down a kill. Prairie Grove appeared disheartened in game two with Gravette winning, 25-13.
"They knew they blew it in the first set," Stewart said. "Obviously, Gravette made some good hits. Naturally, that will put you down a little bit. Mentally, we have to be tougher. If we want to become a good volleyball team, we've got to be able to overcome adversity."
In games three, four and five, the Prairie Grove girls did exactly what their coach asked, finding a way to win.
Sports on 10/12/2016