Lady Bobcats defeat Green Forest, Pea Ridge

It’s still relatively early in the high school volleyball season, but Berryville coach Kristin Whetham believes the Lady Bobcats are starting to put some things together.

Berryville won a pair of home matches on consecutive nights last week, beating Carroll County rival Green Forest in three sets on Monday, Sept. 9, then topping Pea Ridge in four sets the following night.

The Lady Bobcats defeated Green Forest 25-16, 25-16, 25-15. Against Pea Ridge, Berryville won 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 25-18.

Whetham said she was especially pleased with Berryville’s performance in the victory over Pea Ridge.

“That was the first night that everybody on the floor just put it all together,” she said. “Up until then, we’d always had one or two that just weren’t having a good night or whatever, and we’ve still been able to win. (Against Pea Ridge), everybody on the floor just — it all clicked and they were playing together. They knew what each other was capable of. It’s taken us a little bit to figure out what our strengths are and our weaknesses are. … But (against Pea Ridge) it’s like a light bulb clicked and everybody just played well.”

This group of Lady Bobcats has played together for several years.

“It makes a difference that this group of girls has kind of grown up together,” Whetham said. “They know what each other is capable of doing and they play together on the floor. And they’re a good group of girls. Their attitudes are so much better than they were last year.”

The Lady Bobcats’ junior class had a successful run in junior high but struggled a bit as sophomores.

“It was different moving in there with girls you haven’t played with,” Whetham said. “But this group is starting to figure each other out and they’re starting to click. Everything is starting to click.”

Berryville has already faced the top two teams in its conference in Prairie Grove and Gravette. The Lady Bobcats lost both those matches on the road, but will get another crack at both those teams. Gravette will visit Berryville on Sept. 24 and the Lady Bobcats will host Prairie Grove on Oct. 1.

Berryville won a set against Prairie Grove on Sept. 5.

“That is a really good sign,” Whetham said. “They’re actually picked No. 1 in our conference. Prairie Grove beat Gravette. They played early, and Prairie Grove beat Gravette in four (sets). We lost to Gravette in three. And then we turned around and took a set from Prairie Grove. So that should prove to the kids that we can play with Gravette.”

Whetham said the Lady Bobcats are beginning to gel.

“It’s taken us a while,” she said. “But I think they’re figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Like, we’ve figured out that we’re not the strongest hitting team, but by golly we’re a pretty dang good defensive team.”

The Lady Bobcats picked up another victory on Monday, Sept. 16, defeating Cassville in three sets. Berryville will host Gentry on Tuesday, Sept. 17.