FARMINGTON - Prairie Grove was swept 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 26-24) by rival Farmington in a benefit volleyball match Aug. 15.
An injury to Prairie Grove 5-feet-6 senior Cadi Williamson broke the Lady Tigers' momentum when they held a 22-19 advantage in game-two after a lackluster performance in losing game one, 25-14. After Williamson was carried off the court, Farmington capitalized by scoring six unanswered points to win, 25-22, and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five match.
Prairie Grove coach Mat Stewart said he wasn't going to blame the loss on an injury, yet admitted that was a factor.
"It took us 10 to 12 points to going into the third game to get our wits back," Stewart said. "The injury to Cadi Williamson made me sick to my stomach. The girls have known her a lot longer than I have, so I'm sure they felt it, too."
An early kill by Riley Gerwig and block by Kara Anderson tied the score at 1-1 and 2-2 for the Lady Tigers, but Farmington went on a 12-2 run started by Kailee Purifoy's kill and concluded by Brandy Wallace's ace to put the Lady Cardinals in command, at 14-4. Prairie Grove played better from that juncture, holding Farmington to an 11-10 advantage in scoring for the remainder of the set before going down, 25-14.
Farmington coach Marshall Ward called the benefit match a great rivalry, saying that is always the case no matter in what sport Farmington and Prairie Grove are competing against each other.
"We are in separate conferences now, but I don't think a single thing has changed," Ward said.
Ward noted the Lady Cardinals started well and praised the offense, but said the defense needs to be more consistent.
"We were very good at times, we were very bad at times with our defense," Ward said.
Game two started out as a dogfight fans expected from the rival schools. Gerwig asserted herself to record three consecutive kills and Prairie Grove led 4-2. Farmington countered with a 4-1 run featuring Callie Harper's three-straight aces to go in front, 6-5. Prairie Grove rallied by fashioning a 6-3 run of their own, getting a block-kill from Cadi Williamson and Alisan Alexander's ace. The Lady Tigers were up, 11-9, then fought off a Farmington rally to break away from a 12-12 deadlock. Gerwig's kill began a 6-2 Lady Tiger spree capped by Kara Anderson's ace to push their lead to 18-14. Farmington battled to stay in the game and trailed 19-22 on Claudia Oxford's kill from the right hitter spot when Williamson was injured. Middle hitter Anna Dutton's kill brought the Lady Cardinals to game-point, at 24-22; and they claimed victory when an errant Lady Tiger hit went into the net.
In game-three, Farmington appeared in cruise control, leading 20-16, on Purifoy's kill off a Harper set; but things quickly turned briefly in Prairie Grove's favor. Two Lady Tiger kills combined with a pair of Farmington service errors followed by Kara Anderson's running dink and ace knotted the score at, 21-21. Farmington reached game-point, at 24-22, on Carley Antwine's ace, but they let the Lady Tigers off the hook with another service error. Harper twice set up Kaylynn Bates, but Prairie Grove fought off both hits and Gerwig's block-kill brought Prairie Grove even, at 24-all. Undaunted Harper again set for Bates, who's power hit sent Prairie Grove scrambling. They couldn't play the ball back over and Farmington once more reached game-point, at 25-24. The Lady Cardinals prevailed, 26-24, on Harper's ace to sweep the match, three games to none.
Ward said Harper, the daughter of Farmington baseball coach and assistant football coach Jay Harper, had the second most aces on the team last year and he expects more aces from her this season.
"The best way to sum it up, she is a coach's daughter," Ward said. "I think that just really instilled playing under pressure and to perform under pressure and just to be a game-time player."
Ward said he was impressed with the Prairie Grove volleyball team.
"They looked good," Ward said. "I think they will do well."
Sports on 09/21/2016