Class 5A Arkansas state volleyball championship: Benton bounces back from title-game loss last year

By Jeff Halpern | Pictures by Tommy Land  

HOT SPRINGS — A 12 months in the past, the Benton Girl Panthers misplaced the Class 5A state championship to Little Rock Christian 3-2 wherein all 5 video games have been determined by a complete of 15 factors.  

Saturday night time at Financial institution Ozk Enviornment, the No. 3-ranked Girl Panthers (28-1) defeated No. 5 Valley View (21-4-1) 25-21, 26-24, 25-23 for the Class 5A state title.

“I’ll take this one quite a bit higher,” mentioned Benton head coach Michelle Shoppach. “Our youngsters saved taking part in. In that third set, we saved pushing. They gave us a really exhausting time. I appeared on the stats, and we had solely 2 aces and that’s not like us as a result of we usually get a number of aces. All three units have been shut, and we needed to work for it.”

Valley View which has been to the state finals 20 years in a row and had gained the previous seven consecutive state championships (2015-2017 at 5A and 2018-2021 at 4A) was seeking to win in its return to 5A.

“I anticipated it to be an in depth match,” mentioned Valley View head coach Margie McGee. “They have been the powerhouse staff, and we’re the defensive staff and I’m a agency believer that protection wins championships. I believed we have been in fantastic place till we misplaced our setter [Riley Owens] as a result of we have been up two on the time. She runs our offense and is considered one of two gamers we run our offense by way of.

“Our youngsters labored so exhausting, and we gave ourselves an opportunity. That’s all I can ask of them. I used to be so pleased with how exhausting they labored and so they put themselves in an opportunity to win it.”

The Blazers have been up 15-13 within the third set when Owens injured her ankle colliding with the online help. She was assisted off the court docket and didn’t return.

Benton, which trailed 20-18, lastly tied the sport at 20-20 on a kill by Henley Hooks and a block Presley Pallette. The Panthers, who trailed 22-21, tied it once more at 22-22 when Anna Larkin went into the online. Benton lastly took the lead 23-22 when Bonnie Fagan’s assault went huge. An ace by Henley Hooks made it 24-23 earlier than Morghan Weaver had a kill to shut it to 24-23 befor Pallette had a kill to finish it.

“This feels nice,” mentioned Abigail Lagemann, who completed with 17 kills and 16 digs. “All 12 months lengthy, we’ve got labored exhausting after coming so shut final 12 months.”

Lagemann is dedicated to play seashore volleyball at South Carolina.

“Abigail has been our MVP all 12 months. We’ll miss her on the court docket, however we’re going to overlook her management and off the court docket,” Shoppach mentioned,

Along with Lagemann, Delaney Cooper had 11 digs. Khennedi Visitor had 9 kills. Isabella Lagemann, Abigail’s youthful sister, had 8 kills and 6 digs. Hooks had 7 kills and 6 digs. Kenzie Garrett had 24 assists and 6 digs. Emmaline Armstrong had17 assists.

Morghan Weaver led Valley View with 13 kills and eight digs. Micah McMillan had 10 kills, 8 digs and 14 assists. Owens had 16i assists, 3 kills and eight digs earlier than leaving with the ankle damage. Lylleigh Haddock had 11 digs.

Within the first sport, Benton jumped out to a 13-8 lead earlier than Valley View tied the match at 21-21. Abigail Lagemann had a kill to place Benton up 22-21. An assault error by Fagan put the Girl Panthers up 23-21. Assault errors by Weaver and Owens set the ultimate margin at 25-21,

The second sport featured seven ties and two lead adjustments. Benton was up 23-21 earlier than Valley View tied it because of an assault error by Hooks and a kill by Weaver. A kill by Weaver put Valley View up 24-23 with an opportunity to win it, however Abigail Lageman had a kill tie tie it at 24-24 earlier than a block by Pallette and Hooks put Benton up 25-24 and a kill by Hooks ended it at 26-24.

“For me, that is my first state title, and I’ve been teaching at Benton for 11 years and this has been a brilliant staff with wonderful management,” mentioned Shoppach. “Our group has supported us, and that is good for central Arkansas.”

When requested if beating Valley View, which has been one of many state’s dominant applications for the previous 20 years, made the title much more particular. Shoppach mentioned she didn’t suppose it made it any extra particular, however she added that she had a ton of respect for McGee and for every little thing she has accomplished for volleyball and that she wouldn’t be within the place to do what she’s doing if it wasn’t for McGee.