The defending Class 6A state volleyball champions opened their 2018 campaign last week with a benefit match at Rogers, then traveled once again to Northwest Arkansas this past Monday to play Fayetteville, winning both matches. The Lady Bulldogs are off to another good start.
That fact should not surprise anyone that follows high school volleyball in Arkansas, especially during the time that Jennifer Golden has been the head coach at Greenwood High School.
The GHS girls have won more than 30 matches each of the last two seasons, have captured two state titles, and reached the finals several more times. Coach Golden has established one of the elite volleyball programs in the state, bordering on a dynasty.
Despite losing nine seniors to graduation last May, the Lady Bulldogs are still the team to beat in the newly constituted 5A West conference and will no doubt remain a force in the post-season as well.
Rogers
Last Thursday the Lady Bulldogs won in straight sets, 25-16, 25-19, and 25-20 in a very competitive match against the Class 7A Lady Mountaineers. Three players led the offensive attack for Greenwood.
Senior Abby Cagle and juniors Zoie Benton and Camryn Presley all reached double digits in kill shots. Cagle had 14, Benton 15, and Presley 12. The team combined for 55 kills. The squad was also successful on 91% of service attempts.
Defensively, sophomore Larkin Luke led the team with five total blocks, while Presley had three. Junior Izzy Davis had 27 digs and Benton had 13.
Camryn Presley led the Lady Bulldogs in assists with 24, followed closely by sophomore Anna Johnson with 22. Davis also led the team in in service returns with 31.
Fayetteville
This past Monday the GHS girls trekked north to Washington County to take on the always tough Lady Purple Dogs. The Fayetteville girls are consistently in the hunt for the 7A state title and have usually been among Greenwood’s most challenging opponents.
That was the case again this week, with the home team pushing the visitors to four sets separated by just 20 total points. Greenwood won the match 25-22, 25-14, 23-25, and 25-21.
Camryn Presley led Greenwood in kills with 14, while Abby Cagle and Larkin Luke had nine each. Zoie Benton added seven. Benton (23), Presley (19), and Anna Johnson (18) led in serves with a team success ratio of 90%. Benton had five aces among her efforts.
Presley led the Lady Bulldogs with six blocks, while Cagle and senior Kayley Lawson had three each. Presley also led the team in assists with 24, while Johnson had 15. Izzy Davis returned 31 serves to lead the squad, while Benton and Josie Chapple had 13 each.
Upcoming
The Lady Bulldogs hosted Rogers Heritage this past Tuesday in their home opener, but results were not available at press time. They will play at Bentonville on Saturday before hosting Fort Smith Northside next Monday and playing at Southside next Tuesday.
Greenwood will open 5A West conference play on September 4th at Greenbrier. Other teams in the league include Vilonia, Little Rock Christian, Siloam Springs, Russellville, Beebe, and Alma.