October 03, 2012 Edition

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The Walnut Ridge High School Lady Bobcat Volleyball Team won Saturday's Hornet Classic in Harrisburg. Coach Janna Berry's Lady Bobcat teams have won the tournament for three years in a row. The team includes (front, center) Ashlyn Cothern; (middle row) Sabrina Knight, Makayla Daniels, Nikki Pyle, Hannah Massey; (back) Janna Berry - coach, Baylee Bridges, Brandi Gates, Caroline Kelley, Anna Bland, Brooke Midgett and Shane Duncan - assistant coach. Stephann Petty (not pictured) is also a member of the team, and Jodie Reithemeyer is statistician.

Lady Cats win Hornet Classic

Nathan Hibbard
Staff Writer

The Walnut Ridge Lady Bobcat volleyball team did not lose a single set in bracket play on their way to capturing the championship of the Hornet Classic at Harrisburg on Saturday.

The Lady Cats defeated Trumann 25-19, 25-17 in the finals to claim the trophy.

Anna Bland was seven-of-eight serving, and had seven digs and four kills. Ashlyn Cothern had five digs, five assists and two kills. Caroline Kelley finished with nine digs and eight kills. Hannah Massey was 14-of-14 serving and had 11 digs. Nikki Pyle had two kills, and Brooke Midgett added one kill.

Semifinals

Walnut Ridge faced a familiar foe in the semifinals when they went against the host Harrisburg Lady Hornets. This marked the fourth meeting of the season between the 3A-Northeast rivals. Harrisburg won both regular-season matchups, while Walnut Ridge defeated the Lady Hornets in the finals of the Cave City Invitational in August.

This day belonged to the Lady Bobcats, as they swept the home team in the best-of-three format, 25-17, 25-19.

Bland was 11-of-11 serving, and had five digs and six kills. Pyle had two digs and two kills. Cothern went six-of-seven from the service line, with eight aces, and had three digs and four kills. Kelley had 12 kills and three digs. Midgett went six-of-seven from the line and had two digs. Sabrina Knight had two digs and four assists. Massey was 15-of-15 serving, with three aces, and had five digs.

First round

The Lady Cats opened bracket play against Cave City, defeating the Cavewomen 25-12, 25-14.

Bland was six-of-six serving and had four kills, and Pyle had one kill. Cothern was eight-of-10 serving, with three aces, and had four digs and four kills. Kelley was 10-of-10 from the line and had seven digs and five kills. Midgett was three-of-five serving, with three digs and two kills. Knight went four-of-five from the line, with four aces, and had three digs. Massey was seven-of-seven from the line and had 13 digs. Baylee Bridges had an assist.

Pool play

Walnut Ridge went 6-4 in pool play, defeating Trumann, West Memphis and Cave City, and losing to Hoxie and Harrisburg. The Lady Cats were the third seed heading into bracket play.

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