Arkansas

Final Arkansas high school volleyball Top 25 rankings of 2023

Published

1 year ago

August 13, 2024

Final Arkansas high school volleyball Top 25 rankings of 2023

The 2024 Arkansas high school volleyball season is upon us. Next week we will release the preseason Top 25 rankings. In the meantime, here are last season’s final Top 25 rankings.

NOTE: Records reflect the team’s overall record.

1. Fayetteville (25–8)

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. Bryant 3-1; def. No. 19 Cabot 3-0; def. No. 5 Conway 3-2 for state championship

COMMENT: New group of Lady Bulldogs showed it was determined to join the previous three classes and show it was capable of winning a state championship and they did it in one that went down to the wire.

2. Conway (31-5)

Previous rank: No. 5

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. No. 9 Springdale Har-Ber 3-0; def. No. 3 Fort Smith Southside 3-1; lost to No. 2 Fayetteville 3-2

COMMENT: Lady Wampus Cats make first trip to state finals since 2018 and take Fayetteville down to the wire. They also won 19 consecutive matches and went 2-1 against 5A champion Benton and had victories against 5A runner-up Greenwood and 4A runner-up Shiloh Christian.

3. Baptist Prep (37-2-1)

Previous rank: No. 6

Last week: Class 3A state tournament at Valley Springs; def. Salem 3-0; def. Paris 3-0; def. Harding Academy 3-0; def. No. 1 Hackett 3-0 for state championship

COMMENT: Lady Eagles went 1-1 vs. 5A champion Benton, defeated 5A runner-up Greenwood and 4A runner-up Shiloh Christian and went 8-1 against teams in Classes 5A and 6A.

4. Hackett (38-2-2)

Previous rank: No. 1

Last week: Class 3A state tournament at Valley Springs; def Manila 3-0; def. Central Arkansas Christian 3-0; def. Crowley’s Ridge Academy 3-0; lost to No. 6 Baptist Prep 3-0

COMMENT: Hackett went 10-1-2 in teams in higher classes including wins over 6A semifinalist Fort Smith Southside and 5A semifinalist Mount St. Mary and 4A runner-up Shiloh Christian. Three consecutive losses in the state championship match haven’t left Hackett head coach Bridgett Freeman discouraged. As long as she gets a shot to get back to the state championship, she’s said she’ll keep taking her chances.

5. Benton (30-5)

Previous rank: No. 7

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Siloam Springs 3-0; def. No. 18 Paragould 3-0; def. No. 14 Harrison 3-0; def. No. 15 Greenwood 3-2 for state championship

COMMENT: Isabella Lagemann joins her older sister Abigail Lagemann as state tournament MVP. Lady Panthers went 6-3 against teams that reached the state finals.

6. Fort Smith Southside (26-6)

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. Little Rock Central 3-0; lost to No. 5 Conway 3-1

COMMENT: Lady Mavericks followed state runner-up season with a trip to the semifinals and had victories against 5A champion Benton, 5A runner-up Greenwood and 4A runner-up Shiloh Christian.

7. Brookland (34-4-1)

Previous rank: No. 8

Last week: Class 4A state tournament at Shiloh Christian; def. Bauxite 3-0; def. Farmington 3-0; vs. Gravette; def. No. 11 Shiloh Christian 3-0 for state championship

COMMENT Brookland head coach Nancy Rodriguez wanted to challenge her team and she did as the Lady Bearcats went 9-3 against teams in Classes 5A and 6A and that doesn’t include a loss to Collierville, Tenn. which went 38-7.

8. Greenwood (23-11)

Previous rank: No. 15

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. No. 17 Sheridan 3-1; def. No. 10 Marion 3-0; def. No. 20 Mount St. Mary 3-0; lost to No. 7 Benton 3-2

COMMENT: A season that featured losses to 6A champion Fayetteville, 6A finalist Conway, 6A semifinalist Fort Smith Southside and 3A champion Baptist Prep ended in a five-set loss in the championship match.

9. Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE (24-6-2)

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Russellville 3-1; lost to No. 20 Mount St. Mary 3-2

COMMENT Lady Rams were one of two teams to beat Hackett, knocked off Class 5A state champion Benton, 4A champion Brookland and shared 5A-South Conference title.

10. Mansfield (35-2-1)

Previous rank: No. 13

Last week: Class 2A state tournament at Quitman; def. Cedar Ridge 3-0; vs. Yellville-Summit 3-0; def. Life Way Christian 3-0; def. No. 23 Conway Christian 3-0 for state championship

COMMENT: Alyson Edwards repeats as state tournament MVP and was the only player to play in all four state championship matches. Only blemishes on the record were a loss to Hackett in the Alma Invitational a tie to Springdale Har-Ber and loss to Paris in the Paris Invitational.

11. Shiloh Christian (29-7)

Previous rank: No. 11

Last week: Class 4A state tournament at Shiloh Christian; def. Lonoke 3-0; def. Wynne 3-2; vs. Fountain Lake 3-0; lost to No. 8 Brookland 3-0

COMMENT: Lady Saints finish runner-up again but went 9-4 against teams in Classes 5A and 6A.

12. Cabot (19-11)

Previous rank: No. 19

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. No. 16 Bentonville 3-1; lost to No. 2 Fayetteville 3-0

COMMENT: Lady Panthers reached the semifinals for the second consecutive year. Seven of their losses came to teams that reached the state finals.

13. Harrison (21-6)

Previous rank: No. 14

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Lake Hamilton 3-0; def. No. 12 Valley View 3-2; lost to No. 7 Benton 3-0

COMMENT: Lady Goblins won the 5A-West, split with 5A runner-up Greenwood and beat 5A-East Champion Marion. Reese Rickets (447 kills) was a fun player to watch.

14. Mount St. Mary (21-10-1)

Previous rank: No. 20

This week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Batesville 3-0; def. No. 4 Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE 3-2; lost to No. 15 Greenwood 3-0

COMMENT: Belles recovered from a late-season slump to reach the semifinals the second consecutive year.

15. Springdale Har-Ber (20-12)

Previous rank: No. 9

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. North Little Rock 3-0; lost to No. 5 Conway 3-0

COMMENT: Lady Wildcats recovered from six-game losing streak in midseason that included three losses to teams in Oklahoma to end Fayetteville’s 38-match winning streak against in-state opponents.

16. Marion (24-7-1)

Previous rank: No. 10

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Sylvan Hills 3-0; lost to No. 15 Greenwood 3-0

COMMENT: Lady Patriots went undefeated against 5A-East, swept Valley View and tied Hackett at the Hot Springs Lakeside Tournament.

17. Valley View (25-9)

Previous rank: No. 12

This week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Vilonia 3-0; lost to No. 14 Harrison 3-2

COMMENT: First time since 2002 Valley View failed to reach the state finals and the first time since 2001 it didn’t reach the semifinals.

18. Bentonville (19-15)

Previous rank: No. 16

Last week: Class 6A state tournament at Conway; def. Jonesboro 3-0; lost to No. 19 Cabot 3-1

COMMENT: Lady Tiger loved to challenge themselves against out-of-state competition as eight of their losses came to teams in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas with a combined 187-65 record.

19. Paragould (23-8)

Previous rank: No. 18

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; def. Little Rock Christian Academy 3-1; lost to No. 7 Benton 3-0

COMMENT: All eyes for the next three years will be on Ava Beasley (418 kills, 51 aces, 29 blocks, 323 digs, 278 assists), who dazzled a freshman. Head coach Reed Fogleman said if rules allowed it, she would have used her as seventh grader.

20. Sheridan (25-5)

Previous rank: No. 17

Last week: Class 5A state tournament at Searcy; lost to No. 15 Greenwood 3-1

COMMENT Sheridan won its own tournament, the Lonoke Tournament and finished third in the 5A-South.

21. Conway Christian (26-2-1)

Previous rank: No. 23

Last week: Class 2A state tournament at Quitman; def. Magnet Cove 3-2; def. Thaden 3-1; def. No. 24 Lavaca 3-2; lost to No. 13 Mansfield

COMMENT: Kobie McKnight’s first year at Conway Christian ended in the state championship. Both losses came to Mansfield and the tie with Mena at the Paris Invitational.

22. Gravette (23-3)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: Class 4A state tournament at Shiloh Christian: def. Pulaski Academy 3-1; def. No. 21 Mena 3-0; lost to No. 8 Brookland 3-0.

COMMENT: Semifinal trip earns Lady Lions appearance in rankings.

23. Mena (21-6-1)

Previous rank: No. 21

Last week: Class 4A state tournament at Shiloh Christian; def. Batesville Southside 3-2; lost to Gravette 3-0

COMMENT: Mena wins conference title for second consecutive year.

24. Lavaca (22-12–1)

Previous rank: No. 24

This week: Class 2A state tournament at Quitman; def. Barton 3-0; def. No. 25 England 3-0; lost to vs. No. 23 Conway Christian 3-2

COMMENT Golden Arrows reached the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.

25. England (18-5)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: Class 2A state tournament at Quitman; def. Marshall 3-0; lost to No. 24 Lavaca 3-0

COMMENT: A pair of late-season wins over Taylor earned England the 2A-Central Conference and Conference Tournament titles.

DROPPED OUT

No. 22 Pottsville

— Jeff Halpern

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Arkansas

Arkansas adds transfer DB, signs Texas lineman for 2026 class

Published

12 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas adds transfer DB, signs Texas lineman for 2026 class

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas continued its offseason roster work by adding a transfer defensive back and securing a future offensive line piece from Texas, addressing both immediate depth and long-term development.

The Razorbacks announced the signing of Georgia State defensive back Tyler Scott, a transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining, while also landing Carey Clayton, an offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll High School, as part of the 2026 recruiting class.

Scott joins the Hogs after spending the 2025 season at Georgia State, where he appeared in two games and recorded four tackles. He arrives in Fayetteville with three years of eligibility remaining, giving Arkansas flexibility in how he’s developed and used in the secondary.

Before his time at Georgia State, Scott spent two seasons at Auburn. One of those seasons was cut short due to an ACL injury, limiting his opportunity to contribute on the field.

The Razorbacks now provide him with a chance to reset and compete in a defensive back room that continues to evolve.

At 6 feet tall, Scott adds experience to a secondary that has seen significant turnover through the transfer portal. His addition gives the Hogs another option at defensive back as the staff works through spring and fall evaluations.

Clayton strengthens 2026 offensive line class

Arkansas also added a future piece up front with the commitment of Carey Clayton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll, one of Texas’ most consistent high school programs.

Clayton helped Southlake Carroll complete an undefeated regular season last fall and reach the state semifinals. He enters college football as a consensus three-star prospect, ranked among the top offensive line recruits in Texas.

In addition to Arkansas, Clayton held offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, UAB and UTEP. He ultimately chose the Razorbacks, becoming the 16th commitment in the Hogs’ 2026 recruiting class.

Clayton is ranked around No. 251 nationally and No. 141 in Texas. While not among the highest-rated prospects in the class, his high school experience and physical development make him a long-term project for Arkansas’ offensive line.

Hogs continue roster building

The additions of Scott and Clayton reflect the Hogs’ continued focus on roster balance. Scott becomes the 23rd transfer portal addition this offseason, reinforcing a secondary that has emphasized competition and depth.

Clayton’s commitment adds to a growing 2026 class that prioritizes size and developmental upside, particularly along the offensive line.

Arkansas has steadily worked to build future depth in the trenches while supplementing current needs through the portal.

While neither move is designed to generate immediate headlines, both fit into a broader plan aimed at improving roster stability.

Scott offers experience and flexibility in the defensive backfield, while Clayton provides a long-term option at a position that often requires patience.

As the Razorbacks move through the offseason, these additions help establish depth at key positions and give the coaching staff more options heading into the coming seasons.

Key takeaways

Arkansas added Georgia State transfer defensive back Tyler Scott, who brings experience and remaining eligibility to the secondary.
The Razorbacks signed 2026 Texas offensive lineman Carey Clayton, adding size and long-term depth up front.
The Hogs continue balancing immediate roster needs with long-term development through recruiting and the portal.

Hogs Feed

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Arkansas

Questions for Hester on prison, kowtowing to Sarah | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

24 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Questions for Hester on prison, kowtowing to Sarah | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

John Brummett

jbrummett@arkansasonline.com

John Brummett’s career in news began when he was in high school, as a part-time reporter for the Arkansas Democrat. He moved to the Arkansas Gazette in 1977.

He wrote a political column for the Gazette from 1986 to 1990. He was an editor for the Arkansas Times from 1990 to 1992.

In 1994, his book, “High Wire: From the Back Roads to the Beltway, the Education of Bill Clinton,” was published by Hyperion of New York City. He became a columnist with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 1994. In 2000, he signed a deal with Donrey Media Group, now known as Stephens Media, and wrote for them for 11 years.

He rejoined Democrat-Gazette as a columnist on Oct. 24, 2011.

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Arkansas

Ole Miss basketball vs Arkansas live updates, score, start time, TV channel

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Ole Miss basketball vs Arkansas live updates, score, start time, TV channel

Ole Miss basketball continues conference play with its SEC home-opener against No. 15 Arkansas and coach John Calipari.

The Rebels (8-6, 0-1 SEC) will host the Razorbacks (11-3, 1-0) at Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Jan. 7 (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network). This will be the second time this season Ole Miss faces a ranked team.

Ole Miss coach Chris Beard’s squad will be challenged with shutting down the Razorbacks, who have the best 3-point percentage in the SEC at 39.1%.

Ole Miss basketball vs. Arkansas live score updates

When does Ole Miss basketball vs. Arkansas start?

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7
Time: 8 p.m. CT
Where: Sandy and John Black Pavilion, Oxford

What TV channel is Ole Miss vs. Arkansas on today?

TV: SEC Network
Streaming: SEC Network
How to watch online: FUBO (Free trial)

Ole Miss vs. Arkansas prediction

Arkansas 88, Ole Miss 71: Arkansas is a talented team with a balanced offense that should have few problems overcoming Ole Miss, despite the Rebels being second in the SEC in scoring defense.