This is Benton Panthers sports coverage with writing and photography by Benton High School students. Visit their home page at www.mysaline.com/benton-panthers-sports.This article is by Jack Woolbright.
Jack Woolbright asks 5 questions before the Lady Panthers volleyball team competes in the 5A South State Finals, beginning October 25th. He’ll answer the questions afterward. The Panthers will face the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears in their first game. See the Postgame Answers below in maroon.
1.
Can the Lady Panthers play consistently through all 5 sets?
Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pregame Thoughts:
The Lady Panthers have proven time and time again that they can win in 3 sets, but in the state tournament, against choice competition, if the Lady Panthers are forced to play 5 sets will they win?
The Lady Panthers have only been forced to play the max amount of sets twice all season and it came in back to back games against a 12-8 Greenbrier and a 21-2 Conway. The Lady Panthers won both 3-2 and then went on a streak of winning over 14 sets in a row.
Will the lack of top notch competition prove to hinder the Lady Panthers when pushed to 5 sets?
Postgame Answer:
The Lady Panthers were never forced to play more than 3 sets during their successful State Championship run. Playing the minimum of 12 sets, the Lady Panthers had a championship run that was very dominant.
The first round of the playoffs with Sylvan Hills was handled quickly taking the three sets (25-13, 25-8, 25-12). A day later, the team quickly switched their attention to the Marion Lady Patriots winning all three sets (25-13, 25-18, 25-13). After getting a day of rest, Van Buren was next. After a pretty close first set, the Lady Panthers were not going to let it happen again (25-20, 25-14, 25-18).
The next round, the State championship, was even more of what we’re used to from the Lady Panthers. They stole the first set 25-21, snuck through the second one 26-24, and finished them in the third set 25-23.
The volleyball team had a ton of top performers including Abigail Lagemann who had 17 kills in the last set of the State Championship alone. Kenzie Garrett, Henley Hooks, and Presley Pallette were all big when they needed to be, including when Pallette stole the last point of the last set for Benton.
The overall team effort, the chemistry, and the leadership from the seniors helped pave the way for a postseason as successful as this one.
2.
Will the Lady Panthers continue to dominate on defense?
Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pregame Thoughts:
Junior, Khenedi Guest, and Sophomore, Parker Stearns, play a crucial role on the Lady Panther defense and blocking a majority of shot attempts. The two always seem to be in the right place at the right time and use their size to their advantage every single play.
Senior libero, Olivia Little, flies around the court, able to dig everything in a very wide area. Sophomore, Delaney Cooper, plays a lot like Little and provides a bunch of support serving as well.
Of course Abigail Lagemann’s size and athleticism supplies a ton of backing for the Lady Panthers and their defense. Lagemann averages the most digs on the team with 7.7 per game. Kenzie Garrett, Ellie Ferguson, and Henley Hooks all average around 4 digs as well.
If the Lady Panthers want to win they will need to keep their intensity on defense and continue to move and defend with a purpose.
Postgame Answer:
The underclassmen lead the Lady Panthers defense throughout the tournament, backed by big performances from Junior, Presley Pallette, Junior Khenedi Guest, and Sophomore, Isabella Lagemann. Seniors, Kenzie Garrett, Henley Hooks, and Abigail Lagemann all had a couple of blocks, and combined for 29 digs against the Valley View Lady Blazers.
Sophomore Delaney Cooper had 12 digs playing the back and Senior Olivia Little was right behind her with 7. The Lady Panthers only played two very close sets the entire State tournament taking each of them by only 2 points in the championship game (26-24 and 25-23).
This Lady Panther defense was not going to slip up and it shined in the 5A State tournament.
3.
The Lady Panthers will need to take the show on the road, can they?
Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pregame Thoughts:
Coach Shoppach’s Benton volleyball team is yet to lose at home or on the road this season. The Lady Panthers have had multiple road trips already and have played in a couple weekend tournaments on the road this year, coming out on top and winning every single time, rarely being challenged.
While traveling this year the Lady Panthers have taken 27 sets of 29, only leaving 2 sets to the other teams. The Benton Lady Panthers will go to Greenbrier to compete in the State Tournament. Greenbrier also happens to be the only place they’ve lost 2 sets this season.
The Lady Panthers are going to Greenbrier after winning 15 sets consecutively. Will they be able to continue the streak into the State Tournament?
Postgame Answer:
The Lady Panthers can absolutely take their show on the road. The volleyball team ended up taking care of everyone in the lowest amount of sets possible. The stress of playing in a state tournament didn’t seem to bother Benton. Even returning to the Hot Springs Convention Center for the championship game looked more comfortable than last year. Benton was able to prove that they can win anywhere and the big stage didn’t bother them.
The Lady Panthers made Greenbrier and the convention center their home during the week and took the ultimate title. They finished this year going 13-1 on the road and 16-0 at home. The Lady Panthers proved they were able to win no matter where they were playing.
4.
Can the Lady Panthers continue their tournament success?
Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pregame Thoughts:
While playing in tournaments at Fort Smith Southside and Little Rock Christian, the Lady Panthers have come out on top both times. Both tournaments combined the Lady Panthers won 12 of 15 total sets handling the competition swiftly. This has happened while playing some tough competition.
The State tournament setting will obviously be different than what the Lady Panthers have gotten used to this season, but they have proved that they can adapt and win. The deep run in the state tournament last year, to the state finals, should loom large as this team has experienced winning in tough environments over the last few years.
Postgame Answer:
The Lady Panthers were able to carry their tournament success onto the biggest stage. The volleyball team was perfect this season while performing in a tournament, the only team in their division to accomplish that feat. The Lady Panthers competed in tournaments at home and away, coming away in first each and every time.
The Lady Panthers lost only two sets in all of the tournaments they played this year. One of those sets was to 4A State Runner-up (23-5) Shiloh Christian and the other two were to the (20-8) Mount St. Mary Academy Belles, 5A semi-finalist, and the (21-7) Southside Lady Mavericks, 6A State Runner-up. The Lady Panthers were the hottest team throughout the season and didn’t let up for the state tournament.
5.
Will the Lady Panthers remain undefeated?
Photo by Abi Fogleman.
Pregame Thoughts:
The Lady Panthers are putting together arguably the greatest season of any team in Benton history. Combining the way they have dominated opponents, have went on long streaks of not losing a set in conference play, and staying undefeated.
The Lady Panthers are a State tournament run away from claiming an undefeated season. Through 26 wins this season Benton’s volleyball team has only lost 9 sets. Everyone can agree that the intensity during the State tournament is different from the regular season, but the Lady Panthers have proved twice that they can compete in a tournament setting and come away with a win.
If the Lady Panthers are able to slow their game down and adjust to the voracity of the State tournament, they will leave with a perfect season and a State title. Which would be a very fitting end to this decorated senior classes career.
Postgame Answer:
Go ahead and call them STATE CHAMPIONS! The Lady Panthers played the whole year as if last year’s loss to LRCA was fresh on their mind. Benton finished the season with a record of 29-1, never losing to a 5A team. Their only loss was to 6A Conway. The Lady Panthers lost 12 sets the entire year, swept their way through the tournament, and finally claimed their first state title since 2009.
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This is Benton Panthers sports coverage, with writing and photography by Benton High School students. Visit their home page at www.mysaline.com/benton-panthers-sports. Writers are Devon Hunt, Jack Woolbright, Whit Warford & Bentley Stamper.