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SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school volleyball rankings: Fayetteville finishes on top with 6A state championship

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SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school volleyball rankings: Fayetteville finishes on top with 6A state championship


By Jeff Halpern | Pictures by Tommy Land

NOTE: Data have been adjusted to replicate the Arkansas Actions Affiliation’s new rule through which pool-play matches in event play don’t rely towards the staff’s general document.

1. Fayetteville (27-2) 

Earlier Rank: No. 1

Final week: Class 6A state event: def. Bentonville West 3-0; def. No. 8 Cabot 3-0; def. No. 6 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

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COMMENT: in 2022, Fayetteville is to volleyball what Springdale was to soccer within the 2005 season and what North Little Rock was to boys basketball within the 2021-2022 season – the most effective ever.

2. Benton (28-1)

Earlier Rank: No. 3.

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. Sylvan Hills 3-0; def. Marion 3-0; def. Van Buren 3-0; def. No. 5 Valley View 3-0.

COMMENT: One 12 months after a state championship loss to Little Rock Christian through which all 5 video games had been determined by 15 factors, the Girl Panthers take residence the championship.

3. Brookland (30-4)

Earlier rank: No. 4.

Final week: Class 4A state event: def. Joe T. Robinson 3-0; def. Farmington 3-0; def. Jonesboro Westside 3-0; def. No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-0

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COMMENT: After three consecutive runner-up finishes, the Bearcats lastly take residence the trophy they’ve needed.

4. Fort Smith Southside (22-7)

Earlier rank: No. 6.

This week: Class 6A state event: def. Little Rock Central 3-1; def. No. 2 Conway 3-0; misplaced to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

COMMENT: With 4 sophomores within the rotation, future appears to be like vivid for Girl Mavericks.

5. Conway (24-3)

Earlier rank: No. 2.

Final week: Class 6A state event: def. Bentonville 3-0; misplaced to No. 6 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

COMMENT: Wampus Cats went practically two months between losses.

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6. Baptist Prep (26-4)

Earlier rank: No. 15.

Final week: Class 3A state event: def. Manila 3-0; def. No. 18 Paris 3-0; def. Crowley’s Ridge Academy 3-0; def. No. 9 Hackett 3-0.

COMMENT: One 12 months after shedding in semifinals, Girl Eagles proved they might beat groups in all lessons and take residence the championship trophy.

7. Valley View (21-4–1)

Earlier rank: No. 5.

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. Greenbrier 3-1; def. No. 19 Scorching Springs Lakeside 3-1; def. No. 10 Mount St. Mary 3-1; misplaced to No. 3 Benton 3-0

COMMENT: Similar to dying and taxes, the Blazers made their manner again to the state finals for the 20th straight time. Led 15-13 in third set earlier than setter Riley Owens bought damage and Benton made a comeback.

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8. Mansfield (27-3)

Earlier rank: No. 13.

Final week: Class 2A state event: def. Magnet Cove 3-0; def. Quitman 3-0; def. Thaden 3-0; def. No. 24 Lavaca 3-0.

COMMENT: The queens of Class 2A with three consecutive state championships.

9. Cabot (18-8)

Earlier rank: No. 8.

This week: Class 6A state event quarterfinal: def. Springdale Har-Ber 3-2; misplaced to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

COMMENT: Girl Panthers had good season and run to the semifinals.

10. Shiloh Christian (23-4)

Earlier rank: No. 14.

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Final week: Class 4A state event: Bauxite 3-0; def. No. 16 Batesville Southside 3-0; def. No. 12 Mena 3-1; misplaced to No. 4 Brookland 3-0.

COMMENT: Senior-laden staff bought the Saints again to the finals for the primary time since 2017.

11. Hackett (28-2)

Earlier rank: No. 9.

Final week: Class 3A state event: def. Salem 3-0; def. No. 21 Episcopal Collegiate 3-0; def. Hoxie 3-0; misplaced to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

COMMENT: Second consecutive 12 months the Hornets fall brief in title sport.

12. Mount St. Mary (19-7–1)

Earlier rank: No. 10.

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. Sheridan 3-0; def. No. 11 Greenwood 3-2; misplaced to No. 5 Valley View 3-1.

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COMMENT: Belles dropped down in classification and received a share of 5A-Central and superior to semifinals.

13. Van Buren (17-8)

Earlier rank: Not ranked

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. Batesville 3-0; def. No. 7 Little Rock Christian 3-2; misplaced to No. 3 Benton 3-0.

COMMENT: After a midseason droop: Girl Pointers rebounded to achieve semifinals.

14. Mena (25-3)

Earlier rank: No. 12.

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Final week: Class 4A state event: def. Pea Ridge 3-1; def. No. 17 Wynne 3-1; misplaced to No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-1.

COMMENT: Brad Lyle’s staff has gone 54-6 the previous two years, and this 12 months reached the semifinals.

15. Lavaca (24-6)

Earlier rank: No. 24.

Final week: Class 2A state event: def. England 3-0; def. Marshall 3-0; def. No. 22 Conway Christian 3-0; misplaced to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0

COMMENT: Subsequent up for Lavaca: beating Mansfield (0-4 vs. Girl Tigers this 12 months); 2. Successful a state title, (0-3 in state finals appearances previously 5 seasons).

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16. Little Rock Christian (21–5)

Earlier rank: No. 7.

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. White Corridor 3-0; misplaced to Van Buren 3-2.

COMMENT: Defending 5A champions got here up brief in bid to repeat.

17. Greenwood (22-7)

Earlier rank: No. 11.

Final week: Class 5A state event: Greene County Tech 3-0; misplaced to No. 10 Mount St. Mary 3-2.

COMMENT: Girl Bulldogs ended the season on a down observe.

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18. Batesville Southside (23-6)

Earlier rank: No. 16.

Final week: Class 4A state event: def. No. 20 Pottsville 3-1; misplaced to No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-0.

COMMENT: Two consecutive journeys to the quarterfinals for the Southerners.

19. Wynne (17-7)

Earlier rank: No. 17.

Final week: Class 4A state event: def. Morrilton 3-1; misplaced to No. 12 Mena 3-1

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COMMENT: Went a step additional within the state event this 12 months.

20. Conway Christian (21-4)

Earlier rank: No. 22

Final week: Class 2A state event: def. Cedar Ridge 3-0; def. No. 25 Life Method Christian 3-0; misplaced to No. 24 Lavaca 3-0.

COMMENT: Adopted final 12 months’s quarterfinal end with semifinal end.

No. 21 Crowley’s Ridge Academy (18-4)

Earlier rank: Not ranked.

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Final week: Class 3A sate event: def. Central Arkansas Christian 3-0; def. Harding Academy 3-0; misplaced to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

COMMENT: Custom-rich program again in semifinals for the fourth time in 5 years.

No. 22 Hoxie (21-3)

Earlier rank: Not ranked.

Final week: Class 3A state event: def. Mayflower 3-0; def. Atkins 3-0; misplaced to No. 9 Hackett 3-1.

COMMENT: Second consecutive 12 months knocked out by Hackett. Additionally made second journey to semifinals in three years.

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23. Thaden (23-10)

Earlier rank: Not ranked.

Final week: Class 2A state event: def. Taylor 3-0; def. Conway St. Joseph 3-0; misplaced to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0.

COMMENT: Rebounded from last-season droop with run to semifinals.

24. Paris (19-10)

Earlier rank: No. 18.

Final week: Class 3A state event: def. Rose Bud 3-0; misplaced to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

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COMMENT: First time since 2019 Paris didn’t make it to the state finals.

25. Scorching Springs Lakeside (21-8)

Earlier rank: 19.

Final week: Class 5A state event: def. Vilonia 3-2; misplaced to No. 5 Valley View 3-1.

COMMENT: Lakeside had a stable season in 5A-South.

DROPPED OUT

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No. 20 Pottsville, No. 21 Episcopal Collegiate, No. 25 Life Method Christian



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Arkansas

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Arkansas Razorbacks Prediction, Odds and Picks

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Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Arkansas Razorbacks Prediction, Odds and Picks


The Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Liberty Bowl, and both squads could have an entirely different look compared to the regular season. For Tech, the Red Raiders lost their offensive coordinator but should be a tad more stable in terms of roster outlook compared to the Razorbacks. Arkansas is down to six scholarship offensive linemen and will be missing two key starters in this bowl game. Furthermore, both squads have had players leave for the transfer portal, but the Razorbacks losses were significantly more impactful such as WR Andrew Armstrong heading to the NFL. Furthermore, Arkansas will be without two of its better defensive players: safety TJ Metcalf and EDGE rusher Landon Jackson.

Texas Tech’s biggest loss could be star RB Tahj Brooks, but he has participated in every bowl game practice leading up to the game despite not making an official decision with less than 24 hours to go before kickoff. Stability is key in modern-day bowl game matchups, and while neither side has much, the Red Raiders have a clear edge in that department. With all things considered, I’ll take Texas Tech on the moneyline.

Texas Tech ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number up to -140.



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Raynor and Wallace lead Arkansas State past Bowling Green 38-31 in the 68 Ventures Bowl

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Raynor and Wallace lead Arkansas State past Bowling Green 38-31 in the 68 Ventures Bowl


Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Jaylen Raynor passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns to go with a rushing score, and Zak Wallace had 99 yards rushing and a TD to help Arkansas State beat Bowling Green 38-31 on Thursday night in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

Wallace scored on a 14-yard run with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter for a 38-24 lead. He carried the ball on the last six plays of the drive, gaining 59 yards on the eight-play, 68-yard march. It was his 11th rushing touchdown of the season, nine coming in the last six games.

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Rahkeem Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to give Bowling Green a short field. Five plays later, Smith made a 23-yard catch in the end zone to get within 38-31.

Hunter Summers easily recovered the onside kick and Wallace powered through the middle of the defense for a 19-yard gain to seal it.

Corey Rucker added 107 yards receiving and two touchdowns for Arkansas State (8-5), which won a bowl game for the first time since 2019 — the same year it last won eight games in a season.

Rucker caught a long pass from Raynor and raced for a 79-yard touchdown for a 24-14 lead with 4:13 left in the first half. Following a fumble recovery by Noah Collins, Raynor found Rucker for a 6-yard TD to make it 31-21 early in the third.

Connor Bazelak threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns for Bowling Green (7-6). Harold Fannin Jr. had 17 catches for a career-high 213 yards and a touchdown.

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Fannin reached 125-plus yards with a touchdown for the sixth time this season, which leads the FBS.

Bowling Green’s special teams struggled. Zach Long missed his third field goal attempt of the game (one was blocked) with 10:19 left. The Falcons allowed Courtney Jackson to return a punt for a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and BGSU also had a fake punt come up short of a first down in the second half.

Record Holder

Fannin made a catch midway through the first quarter to become the single-season record holder for receiving yards by a tight end in the FBS. He entered needing just 11 yards to surpass Jace Amaro’s record of 1,352 in 2013 at Texas Tech. Fannin finished the season with 1,555 yards.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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Liberty Bowl by the numbers: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech

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Liberty Bowl by the numbers: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech


AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Texas Tech (8-4) vs. Arkansas (6-6)

6 p.m. CST Friday (ESPN)

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee

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0 Starts for Texas Tech QB Will Hammond, who will open under center for the Red Raiders against Arkansas after No. 1 QB Behren Morton had shoulder surgery. Morton threw for 3,335 yards and 27 TDs in 2024. Hammond has completed 15-of-23 passes for 191 yards with one TD and no interceptions this season. Hammond won’t have 1,000-yard receiver Josh Kelly to throw to on Friday. The wide receiver has opted out of the game.

1 Previous appearance in the Liberty Bowl for Texas Tech, which defeated Mississippi State 34-7 on Dec. 28, 2021. That kicked off the Red Raiders’ current three-game bowl winning streak that has boosted Texas Tech’s bowl record for 17-23-1.

2 Players in the nation had at least 2,800 passing yards and 500 rushing yards entering the bowl season – Arkansas QB Taylen Green and Washington State QB John Mateer. Green has completed 219-of-360 passes for 2,813 yards with 13 TDs and nine interceptions and run 141 times for 521 yards and seven TDs.

5 2-point conversions have been given up by Arkansas in 2024, tied for the most in the nation entering the bowl season. Texas Tech has scored four 2-point conversions this season.

7 Appearances in the Liberty Bowl for Arkansas when the Razorbacks take the field on Friday, the most in the game’s history (two ahead of Mississippi State). The Razorbacks have a 3-3 record in the Liberty Bowl after winning their past three appearances. Arkansas defeated East Carolina 20-17 in overtime on Jan. 2, 2010, Kansas State 45-23 on Jan. 2, 2016, and Kansas 55-53 in three overtimes on Dec. 28, 2022, and lost to Tennessee 14-13 on Dec. 20, 1971, Auburn 21-15 on Dec. 27, 1984, and Georgia 20-17 on Dec. 29, 1987. Overall, Arkansas has a 17-24-3 bowl record.

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8 Victories and three losses for Arkansas against opponents from the Big 12 and its predecessor conferences in bowls. In bowls against other conferences, the Razorbacks have a 9-21-3 record. Overall, Arkansas has a 34-14 record against Big 12 opponents since 1928, when the Big Six formed, including a 39-31 loss in two overtimes to Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.

10 Victories, 19 losses and two ties for Texas Tech against SEC opponents. The Red Raiders played their first game against an SEC opponent on Jan. 1, 1954, when Texas Tech scored a 35-13 victory over Auburn in the Gator Bowl. The Red Raiders have a 4-6-1 record in bowl against SEC opponents.

21 Victories and 11 losses for SEC teams in the Liberty Bowl. The 1965 Liberty Bowl was all-SEC, with Ole Miss beating Auburn 13-7. Big 12 teams have a 4-7 record in the Liberty Bowl. The SEC has a 4-4 record against the Big 12 and its predecessor conferences in the Liberty Bowl.

29 Victories for Arkansas and eight victories for Texas Tech in the Razorbacks-Red Raiders series, although Texas Tech won the most recent meeting 35-29 on Sept. 19, 2015, and has victories in three of the past four meetings. Thirty-two of the 37 meetings came when the teams were members of the Southwest Conference together from 1960 through 1991.

34.5 Points per game have been scored against the Texas Tech this season, the highest average yielded by any bowl participant this season. The Red Raiders led the Big 12 in scoring during the regular season with an average of 38.6 points per game.

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97 Third-down snaps were converted into first downs by Texas Texas in 2024, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. The Red Raiders have had 196 third-down snaps, tied for the second-most in the nation and have converted 49.5 percent into first downs, the sixth-best rate in the nation.

103 Yards and two TDs on 20 rushing attempts in 2024 for Rodney Hill, who is listed as the No. 1 running back on Arkansas’ depth chart for Friday’s game. Ja’Quinden Jackson led the Razorbacks with 790 yards and 15 TDs on 149 rushing attempts this season, but he has opted out of the game.

231 Plays from scrimmage gained at least 10 yards for Arkansas in 2024, the second-most in the nation entering the bowl season.

1,140 Receiving yards for Arkansas WR Andrew Armstrong, the most in the SEC this season. But Armstrong has opted out of the bowl, as has No. 2 receiver Isaiah Sategna, leaving WR Isaac TeSlaa as the Razorbacks’ leading receiver entering Friday’s game. TeSlaa has 438 yards and three TDs on 25 receptions in 2024.

1,505 Rushing yards for Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks this season as he replaced Byron Hanspard as the Red Raiders’ career rushing leader in 2024. By running for at least 109 yards in each of his 11 games this season, Brooks lifted his career total to 4,557 rushing yards, the fourth-most in Big 12 history. Brooks is in Memphis with Texas Tech, but his participation in Friday’s game has not been confirmed by the team.

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FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.





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