Welcome inside, back over to the arena where Championship Saturday has finally arrived.

Welcome to the scorers table on Bobby's block and alongside Madison got we have got five state titles here in Arkansas on the line today we'll start you off the biggest one six state title was Fayetteville and Conway.

You'll start us off and you know all of these girls, this is the most important day for a young high school volleyball players lives.

So it's going to be so much fun to watch all day here.

These two teams were among the top of the rankings all season long.

But let's find out how they got to this morning.

Take a look at the state tournament.

Conway was on the bottom half of the bracket.

They went undefeated in the six eight central play, a perfect 12.

And oh, that's why you see them at the top of the bracket.

They got a first round bye.

Then they handled Springdale Harbor and then a match up there with South Side in the semifinal was with the Lady Warriors.

Cats got the job done.

That's how they get here to the finals.

And a big reason why they got to this point.

While senior outside hitter Megan Smith, Megan Smith leads her team in Kills at 297.

She's been a constant force on offense all season, earning her a commitment to the University of South Alabama.

The 511 outside plays six rotations for the campus Cats tacking on 190 digs this season.

So you can definitely expect her to make a massive impact this game.

So that's how Conway got to this point.

What about their counterpart, the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs?

Well they're no stranger to here bank.

Okay.

ARENA Here in Hot Springs they were the number one seed in the Western Conference would they score a record of 13 and one they got a first round Bye.

Then they handle Bryant and then Cabot in the semifinals to get to this point.

And Reagan Harp, the only returning starter on this roster for the Lady Bulldogs.

It's a big reason why they're back here in the final.

Exactly.

Reagan harp leads the state not just her team, but the entire state in kills at 508.

Yes, you all heard me right.

The sixth one outside hitter also leads her team in digs at 228.

She's committed to UK.

She's a three time state champion and we can expect her to make a massive impact this game just like she has been all season long.

Harp alongside Coach, Just a feeling appearing in the fourth consecutive state championship game.

That's because they're the three time defending state champion.

But here's the starting lineup for the Conway Lady.

Help gets led by coach Laura Crowell away to Madison Durden, Emily Zimmerman, Alexis Cox, Megan Smith, Ava Gibson and Kim Cornett.

Going to be the starting lineup for the Conway Lady Cats.

And on the other side for Fayetteville, we mentioned Raegan Harps, the only returning starter, actually graduated 14 seniors last year.

The Jessica Freeland squad, Quincy Shaffer, Isabella Street, Raegan Case, Madison Williams and Lily Mosier are going to be the starting lineup for Phaedra, the Lady Bulldogs 24 and eight on the season last year.

Madison you and I had a chance to call Fayetteville in the championship game and you see that 24 and eight record.

It may be a little misleading.

They play a lot of top talent from outside the state, but how do you even justify or even fathom replacing 14 seniors on the team and then getting back to the championship?

Oh, exactly.

It's very difficult thing to do and it's just a testament to Coach Phelan and what she does at Fayetteville to be able to fill all of those holes and gaps from all of those missing players.

It's been really impressive to watch and it's a huge testament to their team and their culture and all of their traditions that they were able to get back to the finals here.

It doesn't matter what they did the last three years.

Fayetteville is in the final again.

Conway doesn't care about the last three years.

They're all about 2023.

We've got first serve in the six day state championship match coming up as you're watching this centennial Bank state volleyball championship presented by Eggert View and GMC.

All right here on Arkansas PBS sports broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local recognition fusion co-ops, powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across Arkansas.

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Working inside Baker Park Arena where Championship Saturday has finally arrived.

Welcome to the scores table.

I'm Bobby looking inside Baker Park Arena where Championship Saturday has finally arrived.

Welcome to the scorer's table on Bobby's block and alongside Madison Avenue, we have got five state titles here in Arkansas on the line today to start you off the biggest one six state title with Fayetteville and Conway.

They'll start us off.

And you know, all of these girls, this is the most important day for young high school volleyball players life.

So it's going to be so much fun to watch all day here.

These two teams were among the top of the rankings all season long.

But let's now find out how they got to this morning.

Take a look at the state tournament.

Conway was on the bottom half of the bracket.

They went undefeated in the six eight, set to play a perfect 12.

And oh, that's why you see them at the top of the bracket.

They got a first round bye.

Then they handled Springdale Harbor and then a match up there with South Side in the semifinals with the Lady Warriors.

Cats got the job done.

That's how they get here to the finals.

And a big reason why they got to this point.

Four senior outside hitter Megan Smith.

Megan Smith leads her team in Kills at 297.

She's been a constant force on offense all season, earning her a commitment to the University of South Alabama.

The 511 outside plays six rotations for the campus Cats tacking on 190 digs this season.

So you can definitely expect her to make a massive impact this game.

So that's how Conway got to this point.

What about their counterpart, the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs?

Well they're no stranger to here.

Benko K Arena here in Hot Springs.

They were the number one seed in the Western Conference with a score record of 13 and one.

They got a first round bye.

Then they handle Bryant and then Cabot in the semifinals to get to this point.

And Ragan Hart, the only returning starter on this roster for the Lady Bulldogs.

Because a big reason why they're back here in the final Exactly.

Reagan harp leads the state not just her team, but the entire state in kills at 508.

Yes, you all heard me right.

The six one outside hitter also leads her team in digs at 228.

She's committed to UK.

She's a three time state champion and we can expect her to make a massive impact this game just like she has been all season long.

Yeah, Harp alongside Coach, Just a feeling appearing in the fourth consecutive state championship game.

That's because they're the three time defending state champion.

But here's a starting lineup for the Conway Lady Wolfpack stats led by coach Laura Crowell away to Madison Durden, Emily Zimmerman, Alexis Cox, Megan Smith, Ava Gibson and Kim Cornett.

Going to be the starting lineup for the Conway Lady Cats.

And on the other side for Fayetteville, we mentioned Raegan Harps, the only returning starter, actually graduated 14 seniors last year.

But Jessica Field and Squad, Quincy Schaefer, Isabella Street, Ragan Pace, Madison Williams and Lily Mosher are going to be the starting lineup for Fayetteville, The Lady Bulldogs 24 and eight on the season last year.

Madison You and I had a chance to call Fayetteville in the championship game and you see that 24 and eight record.

It may be a little misleading.

They play a lot of top talent from outside the state, but how do you even justify or even fathom for placing 14 seniors on the team and then getting back to the championship?

Oh, exactly.

It's very difficult thing to do and it's just a testament to Coach Phelan and what she does at Fayetteville to be able to fill all of those holes and gaps from all of those missing players.

It's been really impressive to watch and it's a huge testament to their team and their culture and all of their traditions that they were able to get back to the finals here.

It doesn't matter what they did the last three years.

Fayetteville is in the final again.

Conaway doesn't care about the last three years.

They're all about 2023.

We've got first serve in the six AA state championship match coming up.

As you're watching this Centennial State volleyball championship presented by B and GMC.

All right.

Here on Arkansas PBS Sports broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives back inside power and people.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust and personalized care.

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And now we're meeting the starting line ups for the column, My lady.

Warm up his gas in the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs here in the six day state championship game against alongside Madison Fitzpatrick and Bobby Swafford welcome courtside.

And in Madison there's no point in waiting for the fireworks today as we're starting off with the large classification and two of the best teams in the state.

I'm not going to say the best teams, but two of certainly the best teams in all of Arkansas.

Exactly.

We're definitely, definitely going to see some high level volleyball played here today.

We've got a player on each team going D-1, so there's definitely got to be some fireworks offensively and defensively.

This game is really about who can control the first pass, who's serving aggressively, who doesn't make as many errors.

There's just a bunch of different components that goes into this game and I'm really excited for it to get started.

Yeah.

Conaway comes in with a record of 31 and four, and one thing I really like to look into is who did you play to get to this point?

Because one thing that Arkansas high schools have really done a nice job the last couple of years is scheduling in non-conference.

You look at what Conway's resumé says they've got wins over five finalists.

Both Benton and Green or the two teams are in the championship game for a finalist and Shiloh Christian and two of their four losses, oh, by the way, are teams that are playing today as well.

On the flip side of things, Fayetteville's got a win over Green Raider, who I mentioned in the five eight championship game twice over, beaten the old twice over South Side and they beat Bryant and Cavett to get to this point.

So but they're not here.

It's not surprising I guess you load up the schedule knowing you need to play a tough schedule because you want to be playing here on the final Saturday of the season.

Exactly.

And that's how you get better.

You don't get better from playing teams that are beneath you.

You get better from being pushed offensively and defensively from high level teams.

And, you know, Conway's looking for their first state championship since 2018, Fayetteville looking for their fourth in a row.

This is going to be a fun game.

Both teams want it very badly for different reasons.

They have won 11 straight state tournament matches that goes along with their three consecutive state championships.

And we're about to get underway is Fayetteville and Conway are going to duke it out there but we're in the black uniforms trimmed down and purple Conway, wearing the blue uniforms, trimmed out in white and gray Fayetteville to serve first.

Now we are almost ready for first points really Mosher with the serve and quickly tap the deflected there at the net fellow can't get the block and Conway scores the first point of their six eight state title match that was Emily Zimmerman in the middle her hitting percentage so far this season is 356.

So that's very efficient.

You can see right there being efficient in the first play of the game.

Nice Conway Bishop Floyd with the serve they first look at the Fayetteville attack and that's Reagan harp you mentioned in the opening a nice job there to go down the line again that was Megan Smith and Conway quickly up to nothing and something that makes Megan Smith so good is her explosiveness really watch her approach and how quickly she speeds up into it.

Megan Smith 200 hitting percentage was a first look at heart attack.

That was a film, she adds to her state, leading to a total of 509 kills.

And just to put that in perspective, that's in 32 matches.

That is wild.

I haven't seen numbers like that in a long time.

She's so efficient and explosive and powerful.

She's definitely going to make a big impact at UK next season.

40.6 kill percentage in a 233 hitting percentage.

Those numbers are pretty good.

That's why Fayetteville's here on this final Saturday of the season.

Let's go back and I used to say it will make people respond with back to back points.

Zoe Harrelson Left handed serve gets Fayetteville two point a quick set there and hammered home from Emily Zimmerman.

I come away with a nice answer and that's going to be a big key to this game is that first ball contact keeping your team in system allowing them to run through their middles and having Emily Zimmerman take care of the ball, that quick set.

So dangerous because the defense doesn't have time to set up and that's right into the net.

So quickly gets that point back.

If you definitely want to go for your serve, you want to be aggressive.

But there's a fine line between aggressive and just being a little sloppy with it.

Was Quincy Schaefer served for Fayetteville now in post.

Why for Fayetteville?

As you well know, Madison is a game of runs and sables.

Those twice now pull up back to back points.

Exactly.

It's a huge game of momentum, especially from the service line.

If you get into a groove and you're certain and you're serving and serve, receive isn't doing as well, it definitely makes an impact on the run.

The deep serve handled by Conway can't quite get over the net.

The attack from David Gibson for Conway.

Now it's five three Lady Bulldogs.

And there's one thing we'll touch on probably throughout the day in these five championship matches is the importance of the first set.

How big is it to go out and come not only play all, but to take that first set?

Exactly.

Confidence is huge in this game.

So you take the first set, you know, things are working.

You go into the second set with a confident mindset.

It makes all the difference.

Oh.

BLOCK For Fayetteville, they put together a four point run here.

We've got a 6 to 3 lead.

CONWAY trying to tip the ball, trying to swing and tool off the hands of the blockers, but just not successful so far.

This set what we see in common.

They try to tip because the blocks already established for Fayetteville, they're in the middle Exactly nice cross-court attack there from Fayetteville and Smith gets another kill that was great range by Smith That's a pretty sharp angle to swing but she's got a nice long approach and that really opens up the court and allows her to hit every single area.

For those who don't watch volleyball a ton, is that the if you can delete that high one and attack the volleyball like that, is that the easiest path to a point?

It's cross court.

Yep, I would definitely say so.

It's straight ahead of you down the line.

You have to swing cross body, which means your arm is going to finish towards your left hip.

And that's just a little harder.

It be a little more athletic.

But I know for a fact Meghan Smith can hit that spot.

We just have to wait and see.

Well, here's Reagan.

Harp had served for Fayetteville, the six foot six foot one senior committed to central Arkansas and goes long for Fayetteville and stops the run there a little bit.

Conway up's trailing seven five, but now they have service serve from Smith goes deep and that's going to be an ace attacking that back line came with some velocity and Conway gets the point Smith has a really great flat float serve so it's drifting and it's moving as it's crossing the net and that makes it really difficult to get a good pass on the ball for Smith again to serve that.

You know, this is long on the season.

Smith Coming into today's championship match at 29 aces so making it even 30 but that service air gives the ball back to Fayetteville with an eight six lead.

Oh a little unfortunate there for Fayetteville as the mistimed jump by Conway is Gibson actually led to an advantage the block set up and able to tip it to the side that was a really smart shot by Gibson she saw the court really well knew that the set wasn't there to her shoulder and actually tipped it with her left hand.

Very athletic.

So for Harp in the middle and see why she's one of the state's best even in attack on that back row.

It's almost like going into the net and that's one thing that makes Fayetteville really good and it made them really good last year.

They have a lot of weapons on offense.

Even though Harp is their main girl, she can hit from every area of the court and then they've got the full front row.

So they've got four or five weapons on offense that can score for them the whole lot of time at the high school level, you'll see someone play the front row and also they rotate out harp plays for a run just like Smith does for Conway.

Exactly.

Harp actually leads her team in digs at 228 before this nice tap tap and fayetteville's Ella Bryan is second on the team in kills.

Add another one to her total for the season and the Lady Bulldogs have a ten seven lead and Ella Bryan only five eight so she's definitely got some jumps on her to be able to have that many kills.

Third goes into the net.

Talking about Bryan though for that first kill here in the match today.

Sh150 On the season we played 18 points so pretty even so far.

Do you see anything kind of jumping outside?

Any early jitters from either side?

Exactly.

The service errors definitely are jitters.

You come into this game pretty high up hyper and it's easier to make errors at the beginning if you have to scramble.

And if so, that's a double hit there on Fayetteville.

So that's the point.

Going to go over to Conway.

So again, for the novices out there, what is when the official holds up two fingers, what does that exactly mean?

It means that one hand touch the ball and then the second hand touch the ball and the ball came out spinning.

You want a clean contact and you saw there with both of those digs, it just came out to spinning and nine feet for the lead with Bryan with the attack Hardaway does a nice job with the spin and scramble and go cross court Really good rally here between Fayetteville and Conway and they put down for playing for the game at Alabama five eight Geo outside hitter put an end to that run Ella Bryan did a really good job at taking advantage of Conway's middle blocker not closing in time.

Emily Zimmermann Just a little late on that block and she tore through that seam.

But by far the longest rally of the match up to this point, that one goes Fayetteville way, that quick set there from Conway, a nice reaction from Fayetteville.

They rally around.

We're going to see how often Fayetteville does go to harp blocked out time away gets deployed but got to finish that thought well so she plays all the way around.

Does that mean she's not going to get the ball even though she's not at the net?

They're going to center on the back row at the net.

There's a reason she leads the state in kills.

Exactly.

She's so powerful from every single area of the court.

But I'm so impressed with Conway's defense.

Really reading Harp Shoulder.

What a fantastic dig by the liberal lining up and scooping that ball up that good.

That was how it took it down.

I do like how to make sure Conway is able to defend the attack, and their defense is doing a great job of keeping things active and giving their offenses another opportunity.

Exactly.

A lot of the times when a team sets one player a lot, the defense is able to get into a rhythm and start to read that shoulder and that wrist more effectively.

Haralson With another ace, that's their second ace already here in this match and the left handed serve.

Maybe that's giving a little extra issue for cowboy.

That's definitely harder to read.

A left handed attacker and server and her serve dropped really well just diving right in front of that serve receive line attack goes wide court case in Fayetteville snatches their largest lead of the match here in the first set and that's why you serve aggressively Conway in all sorts of trouble because they're not able to get a three pass on the ball and that's chip there that will sales line again Fayetteville takes advantage to the point in Conway is going to take a quick time out as the Lady Bulldogs are defending.

Three time state champions have built a 15 to 10 lead.

It's like a quick time out as Fayetteville leads it 15 to 10.

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Fayetteville Serving up 15 to 10.

Conaway coming off their first time out of the match, they took the attack.

Nice job by Conaway there and see if they can take advantage that one doesn't get across the net.

And a big point there for Conaway coming out of the time out.

Yep.

Conaway definitely needed that point difference between four points and six.

Each point matters.

We're going to see a lot of time outs tonight.

Some coaches like saving for the end of the match, but generally it's all about stunting momentum, correct?

Exactly.

You get a chance to talk to your team.

Maybe rework some strategy, try and stop the other team's momentum, or get it down on the second half.

Chance Now back to lead back to five at 16 to 11.

It's a lot of hangtime by Harp right there on that swing.

She jumped a little too early.

She did a good job tracking the ball, manning the net, being a presence up there and just hung in the air.

And sometimes all it takes is a little snap of the wrist.

And Jeff Shafer on the serve for Fayetteville Smith's Tap, handled easily by Fayetteville.

He tried it the other way, say that one hit the Nets and goes out to a point for Fayetteville.

And now the largest lead of the match, again is at six.

Ryan Harp is so powerful, it allows her to move the ball a lot, hitting off the hands and tooling that ball into the antenna at great serve there.

So Conway has to scramble to get this one over.

But nice job by Smith to find a little hole in the defense without the block.

An easy point there for the Lady Pistons and that shows a lot of maturity on Smith's part.

She's been swinging a lot.

Fayetteville's defense is on their heels and sometimes all it takes is a little roll shot to that donut hole, that middle area of the court where no one is third kill of this match already for Megan Smith.

And handle that, sir.

Fayetteville.

And another point for Conway and see if they can put together a run to get back into this course.

We're going to 25 the best of five.

Yeah.

A quick check there.

That was more of the less of the arching set and more of a line.

Drive out the heart and give Conway's deep.

It's time to get set up.

Exactly.

That's a very advanced set for one, the setter and also the hitter.

She had to speed up into that swing.

But the purpose of a quick set is to not allow the opposing teams block to get closed in time and take advantage of those seams that that creates.

And apparently you need a volleyball to play volleyball.

And so that's what they're going halfway down for this service here.

And as the Lady Bulldogs have a five point advantage here in the opening set, heart attack goes long.

So Conway stops that mini rally, pulls back within four to look at coach Laura Crow.

As you mentioned, Conway looking for their first state championship in about six years.

There's got two state titles in school history looking to add to that.

Fayetteville has seven state championships.

Great serve there from Conway and well, who else?

Megan Smith.

She does it all.

She really does.

That's why she plays six rotations right there.

She's fantastic at defense.

The serve is there.

It's a great float serve and it just drops right in front of the lobero, which should be your best passer.

So I'm surprised she targeted her.

But it's such a good serve that we know we're going to sell Megan Smith with three kills, two aces and three digs already here in this first set, something that you want to aim for as a server.

You want to have a 1 to 1 ratio.

So if you're going to get an ace or if you're going to miss, then you need to get an ace to make up for it.

And she just did that at 500 average, if you will.

Brian attack for Fayetteville.

Pamela are able to handle that slightly, but not for a second time as that's l.a. Business a clear five nine freshman right in the middle of the front line for fayetteville puts it down.

We talked about how many players fayetteville lost will sustain is one of those that came in just a freshman.

But stepping up big and filling that middle spot, that's her 91st kill of the season five nine freshman.

They just reload Fayetteville will get back there.

But a great block from Hill Ella Bryant goes up and sends that one the other way And there's a bunch of things that goes into that block.

It's timing, it's patience, it's waiting on that ball.

It's spacing from the net and then pressing your arms and palms over the net.

Fayetteville built a six point lead right here, chance to add to it right here.

I go back to Brian Sheaves.

Oh, there they say they put it down the third quarter.

All the hands go down.

Economy is going to take a time out.

It's Fayetteville is opened up in largest lead of this opening, set 20 to 15.

So second time out of Conway here in this first set course, we talked about how big and how important this first set is.

Is your coach, Laura Crowe, What are you telling your lady caffeine right now?

I think I'm telling them it's just little things here and there.

It's the miss serves, it's the serve receive.

They need to get more hitters involved.

They've really only been setting Meghan Smith So they need to keep that ball in system and then try and set their middles more.

They're trying to be a little bit less predictable.

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For more information this visit, County Regional Board 20 to 15 the lead for Fayetteville.

There are three points away from taking the always important first set of the match.

It doesn't automatically guarantee a state championship.

Of course you got to play them all out and it could go a long way in determining that lady.

Cats have fought through a little bit of adversity in this state tournament, though.

They dropped a set to South Side in the semifinals.

That's going to be a better air there for Conway.

Well, they're going to call a lift on that, which is just improper set analogy leads 23 to 15 eight point advantage for the lady dogs.

When we talk about the resiliency of Conway, it'll be interesting to see how they bounce back in the second set.

But the first that's not over.

Let me press that down.

Jones Long all the attack from Madison Durden, a 510 junior now it's set point for the Lady Bulldogs 0.037 hitting percentage right now for Conway back there Nicely done for the Lady Wofford stats starts to chip away at this lead there are no such things as eight point points in in volleyball so we're going to have to just continue to chip away.

But with the rally scoring, Fayetteville can in this set with a point and any any points the next seven serves by.

Oh yes quick set there finally put down for Stefania in Fayetteville takes the opening set 2516.

The defending three time state champions are up one nothing on Conway so little step aside Fayetteville one town away nothing in this best of five as you're watching the Centennial Bank State volleyball championship presented by Everett View at GMC on Arkansas PBS Sports.

I chose a car that would be safe for our family.

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Let's take a look at today's Spotlights player for the six day state championship match, Tori Otter from Bentonville High School.

She's a middle blocker, a junior with a 4.1 GPA.

Playing for play volleyball in college is considered a bittersweet research based career.

Congratulations.

Calling on her a spotlight player for the six eight championship match, Fayetteville takes the opening sets of this six eight title match 2516.

So if you're Colin White, how do you quickly bounce back here in set number two, Madison If you're Calloway, you definitely need to limit your attacking errors.

They've had eight in the first set, holding them to only 34 hitting percentage, whereas Fayetteville has 11 kills hitting to 96.

So there's the problem.

There is just the errors from Conway.

They can limit those and they're definitely in this game.

There's obviously no like no magic number when it comes to statistics one in volleyball.

But when you see those hitting numbers of 296 and zero three for four, kind of what exactly does that mean?

Obviously, it's a success rate.

And what is the what the goal what's a good number for a team to have?

I think anywhere above 200 is a good number for a team like this to have in college.

300 is amazing.

Do you usually want your middles to be around 500 or 400?

Your middles are usually more efficient.

So it kind of just depends.

So we're back for set number two and FanDuel quickly takes advantage, is working hard.

Put one down for her seventh skill already in the match Reagan harp hitting 267, which is a really good hitting percentage since we were just talking about it from every area of the court.

You see her there off of net, but has enough power and momentum in her approach to get the kill.

You mentioned anything above 200 for a team's a good hitting percentage Harp right now hitting 312 in this match.

Conway has got to try to answer and stop this momentum that the Lady Bulldogs have put together.

That's a good start.

The block right there at the net.

It's great work there at the net for Conway and Ryback to tie this up at one this.

It's just so easy to say this go point for point with a team like Fable Team that's got all the experience.

But this is an experienced Fayetteville team as well.

But talking with Coach Thielen before the match, they graduated 14 seniors.

There's very few players on that court right now for Fayetteville who got any playing time a year ago.

Exactly.

This is a new experience for most of these players, except for one, and that's the one they're harp.

And she attacks another and Conway so impressive at the net not able to take advantage Harp goes down the line it's another tune and that's a great swing by harp but the setter Quincy Shaffer having an all around game so impressive getting that ball right to her shoulder perfect speed great setter hitter connection there between harp and Shaffer wants your best players to show up in the biggest moments and Harp certainly doing that up to this point that serve though goes into the net HARP averages almost 16 kills per match.

So we're going to call her name a bunch.

It's not bias that's just for the ball's going tied up at two and set number two now and then into the bleachers can't be dug out from Conway the three two advantage for the Lady Bulldogs and we've seen HARP run a bunch of different sets so far.

She's got that quick set, that shoot to the pin and this one was higher, a little loftier with a nice point at the top.

And she slows down her approach and has really good timing for all of these different sets.

She was kind of like an answer right back in attack from Bryn Jones, the sophomore outside hitter.

You and Smith, she goes crosscourt, Pavlo able to dig it out.

But a little miscommunication there can't get it across an effort advantage for the lady who often starts Conway's defense doing a really good job keeping the ball alive and allowing their attackers many chances to swing at the ball.

But the efficiency isn't there right now for Conway.

But we can see if they're all warm up into it.

As the set continues to see, the officials have limited Conway to two legs and so the normal six I don't want to start has that's a joke.

Meghan Smith tonight at the NFL great job on the field the block that was Isabella st her 25th block of the season six one so very tall up there.

Definitely a big presence at the net.

You see her there, just pressing her palms over the net, pointing them downward, stopping Conway from digging that ball up and covering a quick step there from Conway and a nice job by Ava Gibson again to kind of change direction midair and find a little space in the Fayetteville defense and got it up at four.

We've seen Ava Gibson do that quite a few times throughout the first and second set.

She's got a lot of range and good body control to be able to hit every single area of the court like that with less errors for four Smith It serves the South Alabama commit.

You got it right set up harp on the back line her attack is since calmly dug out so another point for Fayetteville and Harp as she's now in double digits already in the kill category.

I've said this before but that's the advantage of having Harp be a six rotation player.

She can swing from the back row with a lot of power, able to get the kill from anywhere on the court.

Obviously, at the largest classification, you're going to see some talented players all across the state.

Something you don't see all the time is attacks from the back row, but it's something that you really have to adjust to.

Exactly.

Maybe that's a new thing that Conway is seeing.

They're going to need to adjust to it.

Maybe their back row needs to take a step back in order to dig that ball up.

At the D1 college level, though, it's hits from the back row all the time.

So I think Gregg and Harp is definitely going to have a smooth transition in the UK with those swings.

Conley's got a player like that overall, No.

One.

Megan Smith So it's not completely foreign to them, but the big attack there for Conway and number 21, Madison, Bearden puts it down the five to an outside hitter.

And I think we're going to look to see Madison Dearden get involved a little bit more.

She's got well over 200 kills on the season.

I don't.

Alamo and the opponent for Conway is that one sails long so the lady is stats have their biggest lead of the match at two led by just a single point on a couple of different occasions in that opening set I did a quick tap, attempted to look the first time, but there for the second time Bill O'Brien, The five eight junior, cleans it up good.

Ella O'Brien was definitely expectant for that ball.

Good eye sequence there, just tracking the ball, waiting at the net, expecting the overpass.

Then She's so athletic, just reaching with that left arm and tipping the ball to the open court.

Great court vision.

Third kill of the match to Brian Conway.

Oh, the quick set that one back at her all by the favorable knock.

Conway was over the line and it's going to be a quick, cheap point for Fayetteville and that two point lead that lady whomp has had to catch had is quickly going wrong.

It's good and great save there From Fayetteville's Lily Moser Oh, it's three consecutive points for Fayetteville, and they regained the lead.

That's her 21st ace of the season.

And it's so flat and floats so well, it just dies right before it gets to that back serve, receive line.

This time it's handled by Conway, but they have to scramble back and quickly get it across set for HARP that one too far out though and she can't adjust gives the points back to the lady want this catch.

Yep that set just a little too far outside TD over that right shoulder of HARP 8 to 8.

These two teams duked it out in the first half of the opening match, but opening said, Excuse me.

And Conway pulled away.

We'll see what Conway's got here in the second set.

Heart Attack Cross Court handled Easily by Conway Matt violation there on Conway so that kill even though it landed down goes into a violation against the lady cats are still treated as an attacker right it's like I got that kill and I could call for an error.

Exactly.

I feel like she should get the kill.

Anyway.

That's Isabella a tamia.

Only five.

Nine is a middle, but massive hops.

Nice attack there from Conway is Dearden and she puts it down.

It's her fourth kill of the match.

That's team high now.

And Dearden took advantage of that middle blocker Isabella Street not closing.

You see, there's a space in between that outside and that middle blocker and didn't took advantage of that power through that seam You can see why Conway got to this point they have balance there and with four kills Gibson Smith both have two Zimmerman with a pair on Fayetteville this sounds like are you going to stop Harper You're not and that's 11 kills for Ragan.

I can harp absolutely on fire And then she's so casual about it after she gets the it's it's like she's been doing it all season which she has well over 500 kills on the season it's ten nine Fayetteville out in front that surge perfectly placed that's another race That was such a good serve.

Yep.

Meghan Smith thought that ball was out.

She ducked and it just floated over her head right to the line.

We call that painting the line.

Quincy Shafer, her first ace of the match, the fourth up to this point for Fayetteville.

Okay, nice answer, though.

Back from Fayetteville excuse me, from Conway.

As Gibson gets another block, another pill, that's four for the match.

She's hitting 50% of the field.

Her the volleyball a little more.

That's a great efficiency so far.

That's the key.

That's what's going to keep Conway in, like I said before, limiting those errors, being more efficient and effective on offense.

Hey there.

A quick check right in the middle of nice guy to put that down by Isabella Street, a six foot one freshman first pill in the night.

And I'm all set tonight because it looks like night outside it.

Rain clouds here in Hot Springs today.

Bryant on the attack for Fayetteville.

Nice diving dig there for Floyd and Conway hammers it home on the far side that's Wyn Jones, the sophomore Conway with 19 kills so far in this match.

And I've been really impressed by the scrappiness of that back row laying out for most of these for most of these swings.

But here we see the disparity in the hitting percentage.

Fayetteville, 27 Conway 149 So just not as efficient on offense.

That doesn't work there for Fayetteville.

Conway comes back from and put down from Brian lots of most teams would kill to have a complementary player the talent of Brian and she's over 250 kills now on the season chuckling Brian does such a good job in the front row.

And what makes that even more impressive is that she's only five eight, so she just has to be quick and explosive.

She has to jump high and she does all those things very well.

Smith has been quiet here in the second set safe.

She kept the Conway offense going.

That to the outside in Fayetteville is Lawrence Taylor, a sophomore hammers that one home.

So we're starting to see a little bit of the youth get some playing time here for Fayetteville.

Exactly.

All these younger players knowing that they need to step up to get Fayetteville, that fourth state championship.

And they are doing well so far.

Fayetteville shot their biggest lead here of the second set at 1411.

And Conway takes a quick timeout.

We'll take it with them.

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Well, back here in the six day stay volleyball championship, 1411 Fayetteville and set number two Conway able to dig out that long attack another nice kill attempt and killed down by Taylor for Fayetteville 1511.

We'll forget live action photos from the game at my air PBS that August photos and grab some free download you can have print maids these are a great championship piece keepsake.

Nice job for Conway to answer and stop that wrong.

A Gibson put you on down.

Ava Gibson is so impressing me with her range.

And then just the sharpness of that swing really sharp cross-body swing straight down right in from that ten foot line.

However, Conway's going to get called in the net, I believe, And it's those points that's a big break for the Lady Bulldogs.

The third makes it 1611 another block up and that this is a big run for central right in the middle part of this set, much like it was in the first exactly Fayetteville breaking away when they need to their blockers doing a really good job tracking that set, watching that hitter and then diving their arms into those open seams, just shutting down the net.

That's five straight points for the Lady Bulldogs to build a 1711 advantage.

Smith tries to end the run and she does.

That's a big kill there for Conway's best player.

SMITH Only with a couple kills on the night on the day.

There I go saying that because it's so dark outside but looks definitely look to her to step up more, maybe get set a little bit more.

As Conway looks to shorten that lead line.

So it was not handled great there by Fayetteville.

They do get it across now.

Conway on the attack nice diving save there from Hart Taylor has been active here in this second set now he put down Monster Tamia so the sophomore couldn't put it down but the freshman did a lot of youth on that front line right now for Fayetteville.

And I know Coach Chesterfield is going to be loving what she's seeing from these youngsters.

Got a rotation air on Fayetteville.

I think Chesterfield wants an explanation.

Tough notes version.

Obviously there's a lot of ways how it can.

How does that happen?

Yeah, either you're lined up wrong, you have to be perfectly spaced out in that six rotation.

I think you said that the center moved a little too early and crossed over into an opposing player's space on the court.

The nuances of the game, you got to be on it kind of.

I can't handle that, though.

So Fayetteville does quickly get that point back.

1814, the Lady Bulldogs seven points away from taking a two set lead, and that's a good way to respond by Fayetteville.

Just a ton of power algebra iron powering through that ball, tooling the block, doing what she's been doing so well all night.

That serve goes wide though, so gives the point right back 1815.

You think now's the time to do it If you're going to make a run, if you're away, you cannot afford to fall down to set spot on against anybody, let alone the three time defending state champ.

You need an aggressive serve.

You really need to get Fayetteville on a system that attacks on the back row.

That one sails long though.

So that's the start of it for Conway 1816.

Still a lot of volleyball to be played here in this set in Fayetteville.

They'll take a quick time out their first one of the afternoon.

And two points is definitely doable for Conway.

I think the key here is an aggressive serve may be pushing Fayetteville back deep into court, not allowing them to set either harp in the back row or any of the front row players.

So favors up 18 to 16 will keep it.

Here is the Lady Bulldogs took their first time out of the match.

And you know, when you're a team that hasn't faced any adversity up to this point, maybe how do you react?

And maybe that's why all the time out there, it's for Coach Wheeler, and Coach Fallon knows exactly what to say to this team.

They've been in this situation so many times.

They know how to perform in these high pressure, high intensity situations.

Coach Beilein is, such a positive role model for these players.

She played in college herself.

And then we see here the blocks Fayetteville with three, Conway with nine, Conway getting good touches on the ball and defense but it's mainly their full floor defense that's been so good for them here today that they're in and Smith both have four kills for Conaway Jones and Gibson with three and they're trailed by two and they've got service here that's the Bishop Floyd with the serve and serve on that back row, I should have it get a chance to take advantage of big block.

No.

Again, in the middle.

You mentioned that Carmelo doesn't have any block.

That's the fourth with a four favor and sustain it goes up and sends it the other way and it's not even that fayetteville's block is that big.

It's just that they're really good at timing.

They jump really high.

They set the block in the right place and they press their arms over the net.

That block was big for them as far as momentum is concerned about that arm angle there for sustaining a nice job from Conroy to tap that one down.

Hey, I believe they're going to call that a run over the Nets, possibly against Conway.

But discussion of it, Jessica feeling immediately jumps up in one of their calls and I believe she got her way.

So instead of being 1917 common we have serve now it's 2016 and Faith Hill has a ton of momentum Exactly Each point, especially in this red zone towards the end of the game, is huge.

Yep.

Looks like she just crossed over that plane of the net, reached her hand onto the other side of the net.

In that replay, you could see Quincy Shaffer immediately calling for it.

Back comes Conway had a big put down from Emily Zimmerman that set her hit her connection with Conway set her in their middles is really, really solid.

When they get an end system pass, the timing is really good and they just run a simple one set there but able to see the block so well and hit through the seam.

Able front answer with hearts attack that's dug out though by Connell a nice tap and find the hole the defense for the lady cats that's a undervalued play in volleyball exactly and it was such a good decision Fayetteville not expecting it because Conway hasn't done it yet.

A little center dump into the donut hole Fayetteville on their heels totally expecting her to set the ball.

That's like the point there for Conway.

Fayetteville.

That's a nice job.

A scramble to get back and see if they can take advantage of it.

And they do that with Zimmerman again with the kill 2219 and then this very heavy Conway crowd is getting behind the lady.

Help us cats.

Emily Zimmerman has such a high efficiency number because she sees the court so well, has such good court vision appeal going back to half of that one block coming right at us.

And the lady cats will come all the way back to tie this one up at 20.

That's four consecutive for Conway.

Conway just shutting down that net, timing it out so well, pressing their arms into the open seam.

There's their first block of the match.

Really?

Really.

When it matters, we're tied at 20 here in set number two that serve again as well.

Oh, maybe a little too much as a rule and go and taking advantage of that run this favor with the lead and service.

Now if you're Conway you don't want Fayetteville to go on another run, obviously.

So the key to this is siting out quick.

First ball, solid past, solid set and you need your attackers put the ball away efficiently That's Harrelson on the serve already has two aces on the day Conway handles that and there's put down a big cross court attack for the lady cats again ties the match and that was a great spot by Madison Dearden to that deep corner a nice deep course.

We haven't seen that a lot, but just weaving it through two defenders in the back row, 21 oh Bishop Floyd fly for JR Cervix for Conway and the Ace five aces on the day for Conway.

They've got a late lead and Conway lots of time.

Excuse me, Fayetteville.

With the time out, we'll take it with them.

30 seconds.

Conway, 22, Fayetteville 21.

We'll find out who takes that to right after this.

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It's a Conway up 20 to 21 and add one to it.

The lady cats have all the momentum and this one has never won a hammer once another home and I always say the server should get an assist on that.

That was all the server.

She started it causing chaos in Fayetteville's back row and that's Bishop Floyd.

She's again on serve.

They go outside the half and I'm going to say a lift or a two here to now Fayetteville.

Got to see a little chinks in the armor.

Conway now has set point.

That's what momentum and confidence will do for you.

Got to remember Fayetteville had a 1711 lead in this match, I believe.

That's correct.

Autoharp pretty quickly ends the one that was four straight points for Conway and now gets to serve back to the Lady Bulldogs even though they trail it 2422 And if you're Fayetteville, you want Quincy Shaffer, the server right now to be serving.

She leads her team in ACES.

It has one today.

Quick sat put down.

Conway takes set number two and we are all squared up after two sets in the six day state volleyball championship.

They got no sweeps today and this things is going to get interesting.

We'll step aside after a big set there from Conway.

You're watching the Centennial big state volleyball championship presented by Everett Buick GMC and it's on Arkansas PBS Sports.

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We're in for some fireworks this morning here in Hot Springs.

It's been such a back and forth battle, some exclamation point kind of swings, some scrappy digs.

It's been fun so far.

We saw five sweeps last year in the finals here in the first match.

Today, we're ending that trend as commonly bounces back and take set number two.

But whoever opens up the third frame with a block and a point, that's bagels, fifth block of the match.

So far, they do a really good job with their timing and spacing across the net.

Lilly Moser, serving for Fayetteville.

Real quick set there too.

Zimmerman We were talking during the break and how impressive she's been today and that violation there for Fayetteville, that's going to send the point and the serve back over to the lady Cats.

Get to your point on Zimmerman hitting 500 so far.

This match, which is so impressive at this level.

And then it's not just the efficiency, it's also the range.

We've seen her hit some really sharp body swing, some deep swing, some great left handed tips.

She's really been doing it all.

But sit there for harp again Calloway's into the net now we've seen that violation a couple of times players starting to maybe settle into the match losing their awareness of where they are on the floor.

Exactly and you know they're hyper throughout the entire match.

Maybe they chugged an energy drink, maybe they're just a little roughed up.

Of course it's state, so you're really pressing your arms over the net, which sometimes means that you're going to touch the net.

I sat there for Conway, tipped the net, but Fayetteville can't rally to the catch it.

Now we're tied at two oh.

It almost feels like there's just so many different levels.

And each each point or each match resets, if you will, like the first ten points, you're kind of feeling each other out and you got a big run in the middle.

Exactly.

There's kind of a pattern that goes throughout all of volleyball, and we're definitely seeing it here today.

Arms attack and all that.

The match Connolly's a chance to respond.

Oh, and the better rallies we've seen so far here today, he had a heart attack that Remo finally gets down and Fayetteville takes a32 lead.

Conway's blocked just a little early there, so they were coming down when Harp swung.

And that is the reason for the tool at HARP, always coming in with so much power.

She was off the net there, but it really doesn't matter.

She's got a ton of maturity as a pinch hitter.

She's able to really swing wherever that ball is.

But to see Megan Smith get back up is that serve goes long.

She went down and the net stander stood between her and I, so I couldn't see if it was a knee or an ankle.

But good to see Conway's leading attacker back on the floor.

It doesn't come out yet, but there's ever a time to bounce back.

It's it's definitely the state.

After a big attack down the line, he feels the strain points right now.

15 kills now for Reagan Harp and up to 50 hitting percentage and that's such a great spot of the court to swing at that down the line really sharp swing turning her body and snapping her wrist again another and net infraction on Fayetteville.

That's three already between the two teams in this set.

This is the first eight points.

These are errors that you obviously really want to limit, especially in this third set.

You should be kind of calm down now and get into a rhythm and and those errors just take away from any momentum that you may have.

But the down officials looking for that antenna to move it all and he saw it there and made the correct call an attacker into the net from Alexis Cox, the junior from Conway.

It's a pretty difficult swing to attack.

It's it's a high ball.

It's coming over your shoulder.

You have to pace and type that out perfectly in order to hit that over the net.

So that's a pretty hard to hard ball to swing at five four.

Fable has a lead here in the third set.

Nice attack there in the middle from Conway Hey the Gibson another kill that's her fourth of the match the middles for Conway have really been coming up big for them tonight.

That's Ava Gibson right there running at three set.

So there's more space between the center and the hitter which spreads out the blocker makes it easier to tool.

But Ava Gibson and Emily Zimmerman both middles for Conway really stepping up big and that's also a testament to their back row keeping them in system as well I'm going to say along so families going to take a65 lead and this impressed by the Buy the Balance and maybe this maybe sounded like a broken record, but five players with 34 kills in the match for Conway, they're spreading it around.

It shows you how there's different ways to win a volleyball match.

You don't have to do one way or another.

You got to play to your roster.

Exactly.

And that's Ella White, the Setter, doing a really good job balancing out that offense, that big attack there from Bryan and puts it down for Fayetteville.

But more than anything really in any sport that you can't be predictable you can't the team your opposition can't know what you're about to do on a consistent basis and expect to have continued success.

Exactly.

You want to keep the defense on their toes.

You don't want the blockers to camp out on one person.

You've got to spread out the offense to keep them guessing for sure.

Which set for Conway handled by Fayetteville.

But Ryan again puts him down.

This time Bryan.

He has seven kills now for the match, so 22 kills between Harper and Bryan.

I want to attack for the Lady Bulldogs who's working and they have an eight five lead here in the third.

A nice answer there from Dearden, her seventh kill for Conway.

That's Team High that didn't found the hands of the right side blocker tooling the block down the line solid swing to keep Conway in it the famous attack that put down so a nice job by Stéphane to the freshman to answer right back for Fayetteville.

I'm really impressed so far I've said this before but the setter hitter connections on both sides of the net it's it's really hard to get in a groove your middles at the high school level and these teams are performing at such an elite level through their middles serve into the net and that just that just shows the amount of work that goes into it.

It's not just a seasonal sport anymore.

Obviously volleyball is year round and that is if you want to use a baseball term, just banging balls over and over.

It is practice set after set after set with you're with your hitters to master your craft.

Exactly.

The only way to perfect it is just reps on reps. On reps nine seven Fayetteville has a lead and struggle to handle that serve and can't get it back across.

That's Conway sixth Ace doing a really good job keeping Fayetteville serve receive uncomfortable moving those serve receivers around.

See the total laces there.

Conway has the slight advantage that's for the match, not just the set.

Harper quickly puts one down till number 16.

It really seems like any time Fayetteville needs to stop the momentum to gain momentum or just because the day Saturday they go to harp if harp is the hot hands.

But she's been the hot hands all season and it's because anywhere the set is she can hit it.

That set was inside but it doesn't matter because.

Harp is so quick to the ball.

Smith tries to answer and she does.

The first time we've had a chance to call Megan Smith name in a while.

That's her fifth kill for the lady cats.

We've talked about this before, but Conway doing a really good job spreading it out.

They haven't been going to Smith a lot, but that's because they're middles and Dearden and Zimmerman have really been stepping up and being efficient and Fayetteville struggles to handle that serve.

See if Conway can take advantage back to Smith because they're at the net with the block.

And to get to another point.

So Ben Koehler name for much and of some back to back points Conway is number 26 gets her name gone ties the match at ten apiece and Calloway really wanted that point too because they thought earlier in the play that Fayetteville lifted the ball so they would have been really unsatisfied if they didn't earn that point.

And now her attack sails wide off the block.

And so that's the point for Fayetteville.

And you may hear the crowd behind us or around us here and you might hear the lift all this.

Imagine the 3 seconds to the lane that is the volleyball equivalent of what fans complain about the most.

Right?

So the one they all want to lift every point.

Yeah.

Seriously, that attack is long gone away.

So it is tips.

The officials do not agree.

And so the Lady Bulldogs had a 12 point lead.

Yeah.

Can we talk about the fans, the Conway fans, the student section booing pretty loudly and you see drive from Conway minus that construction that never seems to get fixed Maybe one day Interstate 30 will not be a total disaster.

I mean, seriously, when are they going to get that figured out?

Certainly not today.

They will little longer drive now and put down though for Conway the Gibson.

But our maybe our ten from Conway here to Hot Springs Fayetteville depending on which way you come.

If you go all the way down the wire seating an over you're looking probably three 345 depending how fast you drive.

Yep.

And there we see Gibson with that cross-body swing super sharp that she's been doing so well She's so quick to the ball and it's great her hit her connection and rocket champs those line plays work.

It's another point on the half to carpeting over 300 which like I said before, is great efficiency numbers for the outside.

How do I try to answer that again the block in right there, block number five for the Lady Bulldogs and Conway wants to take a time out, so we'll step aside with them for 30 seconds.

Fayetteville and together around they lead it 1511 here in the 60 state volleyball championship.

And you're watching that on Arkansas Sports.

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Do you want a copy of today's championship match or any of the five that are going to be going on today.

Just go to in productions dot net and place your order with shout out to have been in production for making this happen.

Of course, the big thanks to all the crew at Arkansas PBS as we're just getting started for the championships for the 2022, 23, 24 season, whatever year it is.

So we got volleyball, we got football coming up in a little over a month and basketball, volleyball baseball, softball.

You stay busy.

We're busy.

Here is female leads at 15 to 11 here in set.

Number three, wide attack can be handled by Conway and fades got their largest lead of the sets at 1611 Ella Bryant doing things that most five eight pin hitters can't do Jumping super high tooling high hands off the block.

She is so athletic and explosive in her approach.

Conaway needs a start and they don't get it now.

It goes right to Brian and easy.

Put down the left hands.

Eight kills on the match for Brian and Stanfield starting to pull away and Conway, I want to take another time out.

No, just a substitution.

We talk about hitting percentages a lot so far.

This match, Brian hitting it for 44, which is fantastic as a pinch hitter, Conway needs to put together another run this much like they did and set number two, go back to Brian, the hot hands and they come back to Taylor who still can't handle the six foot sophomore.

That's another one for her.

That's three on the match.

And Fayetteville is really starting to put some distance between them and the lady cats here in set.

Number three, Quincy Shaffer Fayetteville's Center is doing a really good job spreading out her offense.

She's been setting Brian a lot and then she just throws in the back set and keeps Conway's block off guard.

Five zero run for Fayetteville.

Now they've got a chance.

Add to it and go back to Brian.

Her attack runs way long though, and Conway really needed that hitting error that ball back and serve and see if they could start chip away at this advantage yet they need an aggressive serve right now by their senior Meghan Smith get them going in the right direction maybe get some momentum back on their side on quick set though, but they attack those long tables, ask them for a tip, they don't get it.

So it's 1813, Fayetteville as a team hitting over 300.

Exactly.

So they haven't really been airing that much.

So a mishit like that is okay when they've been as efficient as they've been and serve handle on the back row.

Go back to Brian Tip though handles and back out to Brian this time Conway can't handle it but every time that you think that okay they've got to be going to harp they didn't go to her on the last attack they go back to Brian the quick change up and that's ten kills now for Brian Brian and harp a really good tandem they're on the outside.

Both of them can put the ball away very efficiently and they're both very different pin hitters.

So it's hard for Conway's defense to get into any any kind rhythm.

You go back to Brian often dug out by the back row for Conway, but they've got to scramble to get it across.

Hey, little bit like all of that stayed in replay on how Fayetteville has got to scramble to get it across.

Allen deflected at the net and Akhil goes over to Conway and coach Jessica Thielen wants to talk to the down official about that return that she thought became on this side, which is the side of the antenna, which I assume would be ruled out if she's definitely not happy about that call.

And then we see Gibson running through the middle of that three set, spreading out that block and moving her away from a one on one type of situation puts it right in the middle, right of that and down.

So Conway gets three straight points and Fayetteville wants to take a time out to stunt the momentum.

1915 as a very similar to the last game Connolly kind of hung around took a big run late at Fayetteville trying to avoid that this time.

Exactly.

I know Fayetteville is not getting comfortable, but it's almost kind of like that got a big enough lead.

And then Conway just inching back it's almost like fable let's down their guard just a little bit.

But Fayetteville definitely outplaying Conway right now hitting to 70 to Conway's one 7637 kills to Conway, 30 to 40 to Diggs.

They're both pretty similar on the back row to Conway's 39 digs five blocks to Conway's one block.

So it's a pretty tight game.

But here we see the errors for Conway 16 to Fayetteville's those 12 faithful just being a little more clean, playing a less sloppy upright.

Now.

So it's 1915.

Fayetteville has a league fans of all ages here in Baker Ozark Arena go the Lady Cats with the serve.

That's Floyd Taylor's attack right into the net.

Make it another point adds to the run for Conway.

It's almost like when it rains, it pours for Conway in these mid set runs they have going on and they always know that volleyball's a sport of runs, but even more so today it seems.

We go back to Brian, the block bowler for Conway is right there and try to dump it over can't take advantage so harps back row attack dugout nicely by Smith the same as attack Conway is in the match Oh that was going to be close to the line but didn't as commonly got into the match point for the purple clad lady Bulldogs.

So Tamia just a freshman but not really playing like that.

You see her there waiting on ball, waiting on that approach and speeding up, using all that momentum to paint the line.

Great serve there from Fayetteville as they get the ace and Anderson Williams at five eight senior Another good serve on that back row not handled perfectly by now Thabo got a chance to add to this five point lead and they do Calloway not ready for the tip there and sustain you find a quick hole and finally it's going to take a time out That's the tanga definitely coming up big for Fayetteville late in this set and if you're Conway I've seen a lot of swings go to the back middle which is where Reagan harp is.

You kind of want to swing away from her because she's so solid a defense leading her team in digs, but just controlling that first ball.

Contact Reagan harp and then staying.

You're putting the ball away.

Great court vision for just a freshman, doing a really good job not only swinging, but mixing in a bunch of shots and using that full arsenal of offense.

So, Tamia, you mentioned the freshman six kills to 73 hitting percentage, but maybe more importantly, two blocks in this match, Fayetteville's really controlled the net.

I'm not going to say they've taken Connally out of their game because obviously the lady cats have more than just the key attack at the net, but they're doing a nice making the lady cats change things up.

I agree and Sustain you all season has been a big reason why those block has been so good.

She leads her team in blocks with well over 77 so far on the season.

That's such impressive numbers for a freshman.

So Madison Williams going to stay on serve for Fayetteville.

They're three points away, taking the set and the lead here in the six.

A volleyball championship nice recover there for FanDuel and Brown again gets a killer And for those watching at home watch Brian's approach, she waits really long.

She has to get a ton of space between her and the net and she speeds up into and since she's shorter, she has to jump high and use all of that momentum, all of that long process to help her swing.

And she does a picture perfect job at it dominate the fact that she's going to the mat now.

It's going to be set forward for Fayetteville.

They've got an eight point lead and they needed a big run.

Fayetteville put one together.

They've scored five consecutive points now after they took a timeout at 1916.

On the way, though, keeps it alive.

Zimmerman with the kill to end that mini run and fabulous Got it.

A handful of set points to play with and if you're Conway you want to just keep chipping away, chipping away, maybe gain some momentum for the next set the goal to Brian attack sails long so calmly against the ball Chip away dig out of this hole 2418.

Yep that's just a little too low an inside for Brian who wasn't able to use all of her hops to swing at that ball.

And the harp on the back row dug out nicely by Conway Smith from the back row down south.

Start their game.

Stefania just gets the kill and the set for Fayetteville so the two three time defending state champs inching closer to another They're a set away they take set number three 2518.

Well step aside is your watch at the centennial big state volleyball championship by Everett viewing GMC on Arkansas PBS for broadcast of this championship game is made possible by the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

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So Fayetteville takes a 2 to 1 set lead all momentum back on to the lady Bulldogs side if you're Conway let's put on the coaches whistle here Madison Fitzpatrick what are you telling your team to earn that time out.

I think you definitely need to shut down Reagan harp she's been way too efficient and effective out there at the pin.

I think I would almost tell my team block her first focus on her defenders.

Try and fill in those gaps.

Really focus on her to shut her down.

18 kills.

She's had a phenomenal game so far.

So set number four underway here in Hot Springs.

And right back the harp and right back to getting kills on the stat sheet 19 in the match.

I'll tell you what, that's a really hard spot on the court to defend that deep corner line shot She's so Christie able to control that ball so well and place it wherever she wants on the court.

There's no wonder why she's going down to U.S.A. at the term I was not expecting it here today.

She's a Christie.

It's a really good skill to have in volleyball.

It means you got a lot of command over the ball.

Your wrist plays a big part in your in your swing.

Nice block by the way defensive back to harp being able to dig it out a nice possession here defensively for Conroy and can they take advantage of it so they can is that one goes in for the gypsies and a big point for Conway to tie tied up in one is a lot of power behind that swing to the deep corner and Josh so much power that Pavel's defense wasn't able to control it.

Great hustle though.

That's exactly what you want to see out of your defensive line.

Scrambling for every single ball.

It's the cheapest seat in the house right where that ball once because all the prices are the same.

Here they go.

Hey Arena nice block again by Conway Zimmerman goes up and rejects it Yeah nothing to do they come on down the hot springs one ticket we'll get you in all day can also listen to me talk.

Watch it to a state championship will be next matinees for Conway scheduled for 105.

But that's obviously going to depend on what happens here.

And here's the advantage of that serve.

It floats really well and then it rises up.

So you see it low dropping and it's really difficult for the serve receive line to aim and get in the right position for that ball because it moves so much.

BLOCK Again there for Conway they're doing a really nice job at the net.

This is except excuse me great job on the back line and most teams are playing that scramble drill right now.

Really, really good defense on both sides.

That attack goes wide, though, and Conway gets the points for consecutive here in set number four for more they want this catch Conway worked really hard defensively for that point laying out for all of those balls and doing a really good job covering that line shot which harp has been hitting very consistently.

Fayetteville trying to put an end to this for a run.

Can't do it.

Zimmerman again puts it down to Fayetteville.

That'll take an early timeout here in set number four.

So we'll step aside with him.

Conway leads it five one here in the fourth, which was every moment for every memory from that first car, your first home to your first child and all the highs and lows that tomorrow night black trip, everything that matters most to you and your family.

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We're back here in set number four Female leads them at two sets to one.

But Conway has all the momentum here in set.

Number four, they've scored five consecutive points in only five one.

Fayetteville took a quick time out, and this is exactly what Conway needed coming out of that third set.

Exactly.

I love the passion from Conway.

I see it throughout all of the players.

Every time they get a point, they're celebrating like it's the final point that's definitely keeping them in it.

All that energy that they have.

The Floyd back to serve for fans our excuse me for Conway Lady Bulldogs go back to half and they've already put an end to that run but the economy block Is there just couldn't control it and keep in front of them exactly the Conway block is there the timing isn't right and they're not pressing their arms over the net at the right point.

Reagan Harp just powering through that seam and tooling that middle block.

Who did it close all the way.

Oh well, ovation there for Conway's Ryan Jones hadn't seen that kind of hop yet to this point, but that showed up out of nowhere whew, that was a fast arm swing.

So I think that's the fastest swing we've seen all day, even in the slow motion.

And it's almost like she had a full body crutch, all of her weight moving forward and then her whole body in the air swinging through that ball.

It's a very impressive swing from the right side, which in my opinion, is the hardest side to swing from.

Six eight coaches remember the name Erin Jones.

She's only a sophomore.

Half her attack blocked up.

And then again, the lady cats have come to play here in the fourth.

Gibson did a really good job closing that block, getting all the way there, not allowing the tool to happen like it happened two points ago.

That was really smart by her to fix her mistake and have a pretty technically sound block bouncing back.

So.

Well, now that Sarah Sayles we all know nice job defensively from Lilly Moser to let that one go, it was close.

Well, that's a big momentum killer there for Conway and see if they can put together a run of their own harp to serve.

Not only comes right back.

That one hammered home from Jones for the sophomore.

He up here in the fourth set that she's got six kills in the match one of five players now for Conway with six kills or more and that was a great set pretty far away from Jones but she waited on it showed a lot of maturity as a pin attacker swung to that ball with such a quick arm.

TAYLOR Her attacks blocks.

Jones tries to put one down for Conway.

Can't get it done.

Attack from Conway dug out by Harp on the back row for Fayetteville as Conway got into the nets, you can even a sense the tension really starting to pick up here inside Bank Okeke Arena for set number four it's do or die time for Conway they got the eight point lead a quick check apparently handles by Gibson so back to back points for the Lady Bulldogs and we haven't seen many errors from Gibson that's only her third she's still hitting well over 300.

That's an okay mistake to make when you're as efficient as you are.

So Reagan Kay, serving for Fayetteville in attack Smith has been fairly quiet in kind of stretches, but that's a big kill there for Conway's leading hitter.

And she gets the kill that's called a wrist away swing.

She's having to come inside and then she's just dropping that thumb using a lot of wrist.

Like I said, a very player, which makes the defense it makes it hard for the defense to read her shoulder and her arm down the chain is attack as follows down and can be blocked by Conway.

These two teams trading big blows right at the Nets.

It's nine six Lady Wofford stats out in front that's a ten is eighth kill of the night She's been pretty active in the middle there That's a testament these setters are playing at such an elite level able to set every single one of their attackers.

That's her goes into the net though so can't put together a run.

Speaking of Fayetteville, ten six, the crowd's not handling the emotion well.

As a player, how do you handle kind of these stressful moments, especially as we're getting to the waning moments of a match?

Exactly.

You have to slow the game down.

You have to take it one pass at a time, one set at a time, or one swing at a time.

All you're thinking about is your next move.

You can't get ahead of yourself and overwhelm yourself with the the grandiose that this is state.

No, you have to boil it down to one play at a time.

Serve.

I quit it.

That can't be handled by Fayetteville.

Now it's 12 six Conway When it has been so impressive, we haven't really talked about her that much, but her defense has been so stellar so far.

This match and then coming up big with that ace right there and a good serve but Fayetteville handles it with a block again shows up the lady catch the fans.

It is going to take another timeout after the block by lowering Goforth to 511 jam so we'll step aside with them.

Conway leads it 13 to 6 32nd time outs.

We're back with a set number four.

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I got an actually a stay in touch with Arkansas PBS and never miss an update Just visit my r PBS dot org slash sign up Conaway he's got a 13 six lead.

I've got a ton of momentum.

And Fayetteville has exhausted both of their timeouts here in the SEC.

So I can't do anything but battle back.

You know the three time defending state champion can do so and still a lot of points to be played and starts right there at halftime on the back row.

Pomeroy can handle it the deficit the six and that was a really smart decision by Quincy Shaffer the the setter setting the attacker she knows will get the kill.

That's what it's going to take to get Fayetteville back in it.

There is Lilly Mosher on serve for the Lady Bulldogs quick set from Conroy and Zimmerman Hammers at home ninth kill the match for Emily Zimmerman hitting almost 500 as continues to be impressive here on the state's largest stage.

But Zimmerman so powerful using all of that weight in front of her to power through that ball.

And she also does a really good job avoiding the block.

She sees the hands really well of the blocker and she swings away from it.

And a quick set, that one, though, into the net.

Zimmerman can't put it down.

Remember, no on the year is over 200 kills came into the match at the 194.

Zimmerman actually powered through that ball and it landed on Fayetteville side of the net.

That's all that power coming through right there.

That's my mistakes.

O'Connell is up 15 to 7.

Harpo Hurt attacks it back the other way and Conway and their fans are feeling it with 16 to 7 went through of about a set and a half maybe two sets and Connolly didn't have a block and all of a sudden you look up now they've got five exactly Zimmerman really stepping up and leading her team through middle doing a really good job at tracking that set sustain you all are attacks and the other way that's a double hit though on Fayetteville.

So the cats again get a points for consecutive and this is the largest lead of the match for either side.

Conway leads it by ten.

I've said it before, but when it rains it pours for Conway when their defense is on, their offense is on and then their block really has picked it up in the service game is their favorite is really got to scramble to get that one across but they do not get a big attack from Jones handled all by Fayetteville and I'll see if the Lady Bulldogs and start to chip into this lead.

But by no man's land is Conway and Madison.

Dearden puts one man in the middle 11 point advantage for the lady cats.

That was a really smart shot by Dearden, who just took a little bit off it, rolled it to the open court.

There's been a lot of swings this game.

She's catching fire on their heels.

Really good court vision and court awareness.

Five consecutive points for the Lady Whomping Stats.

Our RPO puts it over that around and we saw that be the momentum starter that Fayetteville drastically needs.

No matter who you are, if you're a female fan, you are wanting to avoid that number five, it was Harrelson on the Serve couple Aces on the day that matter.

Timmerman hammers another one home right in the middle of that Conway attack.

She has 11 kills in the match and it's certainly seem like there's anything slowing down this momentum for Conway here in the fourth.

And one thing that Zimmerman does really well as she hits that ball at such a high point over the net, almost hitting over the opposing block, hitting 556 this game, Hart's attack deflected the block back on to the Fayetteville side of the net and everything's just turning up.

Aces for Campbell and Conway is in a rhythm right now.

I like to call this the flow zone.

Everything is working.

It's kind of muscle memory.

You're not overthinking anything and it's almost like everything seems to go your way and you just need to make the simple plays.

If you're.

Conway you've got a 12 point lead, only five points for the set.

Just make sure you do the simple things part with credit for the kills that was blocked out of bounds.

And that was a smart set to run right there.

It was an inside set.

She didn't run it all the way out to the pin.

That's a three set kind of moving that block around because the block has really become more effective.

Great serve by Shafer for a save on a longer at the point 20 to 10 back to back points there for the lady Bulldogs after Jones that woman drives the net and goes lights up the three yard mini run for Fayetteville got a start somewhere.

Is going to climb this mountain.

Exactly.

And if you want anyone back there on the service line, you want Shafer, who leads the team in assists five nine senior Lisa Shafer Let's say he goes, Well long, though, but Conway four points away from forcing a fifth and decisive six halves catch put down nicely.

It's best you don't hit yourself in the face and the microphone.

You could say that was a great set by Shafer.

And then Harp does a really good job waiting on that ball, having a nice long approach, keeping ball in front of her, using all of that momentum to power through and HARP serves can't be a handle on the back row for Conway.

So again, the Lady Bulldogs just kind of chipping away.

This was 22 eight, now it's 2113.

That was always my favorite thing.

As a player.

You get the kill and then you go back and you get the ace.

Just confidence building left and right and that of Megan Smith.

It's handled on the back row, though, for Fayetteville.

They've got a good attack on it.

Nice job on the block for Fayetteville Smith since that went into the lack of momentum starting to pick up for Fayetteville.

The defense for Fayetteville, definitely keeping them in it, shutting down players that have been hot for Conway and then forcing them to error six one run here for Fayetteville that's seven on is hard gets the ace Conway is going to take a timeout to try to stop this momentum from Fayetteville so we'll step aside with them Fayetteville clawing back into this four set here watching the six day state volleyball championship on Arkansas PBS Sports.

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Conway Clinging to a 2115 lead.

I didn't think I was going to say that about eight points ago.

But Fayetteville just scratching and clawing their way back into this fourth set and also in there with they were down 12.

Now they're within six or Fayetteville definitely knows how to win three state championships in a row.

They know how to compete in this arena.

They're comfortable doing it.

They know how to fight here.

It's very impressive as they claw their way back into it.

So here we go.

Reagan Harp still at serve for Fayetteville.

They it by six but do have a 2 to 1 set advantage serve by Conway or try to set up Smith on the outside.

Ryan digs that one out Taylor Jones the other way but the blocks Louisville Fayetteville and a lady Bulldogs this is getting into it plays like absolutely give me chill bumps Every single one of those boys fell to the ground in celebration.

They know how important each point is as they claw their way back into this.

Their blocking has really stepped up.

Like I said before, their defense is keeping them in at the set 8 to 1 run for Fayetteville.

Conway trying to put a stop to it.

Why not harp her attack though into the nets down away catches a break there.

Now it's 20 to 16, more so than anything obviously mistakes are going to happen but you get harp off of serve who been there for six consecutive points.

Exactly.

And if you're Fayetteville, you want to have short term memory.

You brushed that off.

All that matters is this point.

Go outside to Brian and block not there for Conway.

And maybe the nerves are starting to creep in for Conway a little bit.

Yeah, we got to beat the champ.

They're not going to beat themselves and Fayetteville Grit and right back into this you know here's Reagan case and he set up Smith on the outside.

Back and forth the the McCain is going to get credit with the kill hope law Karl wanted a net violation not going to happen 2218.

I've been so impressed by a tamia, just a freshman, but able to handle all of this pressure that a state finals brings, handling it really well and performing very efficiently.

A quick set in the middle.

Allen sails wide and all of a sudden the 12 point lead is down to three.

For Conway, you can just sense the momentum meter is really tilted to our left, which is the Fayetteville side.

Exactly.

And that set just a little too low right there.

Quick set there for tonight.

Yeah, take advantage of it.

All of a sudden, it's 22 to 20 and another time out from Conway.

So we'll step aside with them.

Both teams out of timeouts.

We've got some drama.

No go anywhere.

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We're back here inside Bank Ozark Arena.

Conway has got a 20 to 20 lead, but they let it 20 to 8.

Fayetteville is this scratched and called and fought their way back into it.

So if you're Conway here in Madison, how do you stop this run it's right now it's mental for Conway 100% they had such solid lead.

Like I said before, you need a focus on each plate.

You need a three pass, you need a solid set, and you need a kill right off the bat.

And there it is.

Megan Smith goes deep corner with it and a much needed kill for Conway that stops a four consecutive point run from Fayetteville.

But more importantly, it gets the ball back in service.

And you mentioned it with the harp earlier to get a kill and now Smith to serve.

Exactly.

Let's see what she can do with it right outside of Conway, right back on the attack.

I'm going to say that one was deflected at and that's on the lady catch now a point away from taking set number four Conway really taking advantage of that timeout that they called this is exactly how you want your team to respond after a time out whatever coach Laura Crowe said to them really working against Smith's serve and for the set now and tips in that nice diving dig by Harp Taylor's attack Cross-court hits Fayetteville Alive.

That takes a lot of confidence in your sophomore to go to her with the no game on the line not the match, but the game of course.

And that was a really confident swing by her.

She waited on that approach and just snapped on the ball.

Very sharp angle serve from Williams handle by Conway Allen's deflected and Conway handles the big run they take set number four we have got a fifth and deciding set coming up we'll find out who the six a state champion is going to be as we step aside as you're watching it right here on Arkansas, PBS Sports, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family.

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This is so important to this state and the fabric of the state.

And I appreciate Arkansas PBS doing all the state title games and that makes it available for not just the fans in central Arkansas, south Arkansas, but fans around the entire state.

I can only think of the kids in small towns and this is the biggest moment maybe in their sports careers.

And they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.

Looks like we have some new help in the marketing department acting high into the air with everything you can see.

I think you do the work out here fine.

And how do you do it?

Family and customer friends.

I am Liane can be very big dancing.

I am actually a if you're not going to get your first kill the match until the faucet at my nose will be the point that wins it as and go forth puts it down for Conway.

Two sets apiece here in the six AA state championship match.

You absolutely have to love it.

The set finished by Lauren Goforth, her first kill of the night and how impressive of her to swing so aggressively not getting set that much, but to swing so aggressively and get the kill coming up big for her team for two sets of piece and just a quick notes we go to 15 here in set number five so go to 25 and sets to 134 essentially treats it number five like a tie break.

So the first one, the 15 win by two is going to be your state champion here and the six eight state volleyball championship match.

Can't ask for much more to start today.

So if you're tuning in looking for Conway Christian in Mansfield, there are going to be a little bit late start and serve off will be Conway and Ella White number ten the five five senior in the fifth set is underway.

How do you handle the nerves of this?

Like I said before, you just simplify the game.

You go back to what you know and you use your strengths to your advantage.

Harp sends one long so Conway first on the board and always starts with an aggressive serve.

You really want to get the other team out of system not allowed them to set up their offense early.

You knew Conway would have a lot of momentum going into the fifth set if they won the fourth.

But maybe the way Fayetteville rallied and the harp disappeared earlier, the way Fayetteville rallied at the end of that four set being down 12.

And sure, they didn't get all the way back to fighting back, maybe gave them a little bit of momentum as well.

Exactly And Fayetteville has that winning championship mentality.

So it makes sense that they're able to perform and fight back in such high pressure, pressure situations.

Harrison Well, that's our third ace of the game, big time serve there from Morgan Harrison, the six foot junior, now president.

Zoey Harrelson, the five eight senior to Harrelson's on the roster.

Well I like attack there from Conway can't be handled by Fayetteville and we're not enough at two apiece And that was Zimmerman who's been so efficient for Conway Conway managing to be in system a lot running that one set and it wasn't timed.

But Zimmerman has such a high reach and long arms, so she was able to get a tip.

Floyd serve on the back row.

Fayetteville scrambles Miss and get across now.

See if Fayetteville can take advantage of it.

They go outside the harp.

Harp goes up at the block.

The big attack is coming from Jones.

What we talk about harp so much on offense that her first block of the match on defense comes at a huge juncture a mismatch harp even though that's her first block she's very technically sound you see there that's pretty much textbook blocking technique J First serve goes into the net so a point given right back to the lady wall stats three apiece.

I would expect nothing less than a back and forth battle for this fifth shot.

It's been that way all day.

Don't expect it to change here.

Deep serve handle by Fayetteville.

Those Moser hearts attack right down the line.

That's what you call a hammer.

And it's so smooth, too.

There's nothing about her approach or swing that's jagged or forced.

You can tell she's been playing at a very high level for a very long time.

Ball just explodes off the ball over her hands for three Fayetteville here in the fifth.

Oh, quick set.

Not a good settle in third takes advantage of it.

Well too much on that Conway couldn't get a touch on it.

The Lady Bulldogs have their largest lead here in this final and fifth set now and well short go into the match to miss it there by heart.

5 to 4 Fayetteville out in front.

And sometimes this happens when you have a pretty flat float serve as a player.

We've all done it.

Sometimes you just serve underneath net harps back row.

It attacks those wide left.

That ties the match up at five.

I felt like all of us had golfers go up there.

We're going to jump on every now and then right?

You going to have a bad serve?

Exactly.

Nobody's perfect.

I'm Paul Bryan's name recently.

And that one sales of Ella Bryan's attack can't go between the lines.

So Conway scores three consecutive points.

Now they're up on Fayetteville, six five.

The set on that was just drifting a little too far off the net.

Great serve there for Conway And Fayetteville wants to take a time out.

We'll keep it here, though.

Four straight points for the lady cats.

And because we're all going to 15, that's why I feel able to take the time out so early here in the fifth.

Yeah, that was a really smart time out.

Every single point counts.

And you don't want Conway to go on these long runs that they have been doing it.

Also, they've it seems like they've got home court advantage the fans are really loud for them.

So that's just fueling all of that momentum and runs that they've been having.

Yeah, we mentioned the short drive from Conway a whole lot shorter from Fayetteville.

First time the lady cats have been in the championship in a few years looking for their first title since 2018, 2019.

I've got too many pieces of paper in front of me 2018, 2018.

So Coach Laura Crowe coaching up the squad.

But that crowd, as you mentioned, is playing a huge factor, really, except now here so far it's at five and it always does.

No matter what sport you play.

Home field.

Home court advantage is a huge thing in sports.

It really, really makes it fun.

You you get fired up based off the crowd a lot of the times.

Well, if we know anything based on the previous set, fable is not going anywhere, even though they're down just to exactly.

Conway We cannot get comfortable.

Take Jones with a serve there for Conway.

Set up harp on the back row attack that straight up in Conway He's got to scramble a touch to miss a tackle right back at Harp.

Nice job to dig that one out trying to attack find some space and I'm going to say that hit the ground.

No, they don't play.

So the hand got down.

So great job by Conway to stay with it.

Oh, my my Fayetteville got to scramble a little bit.

They try to jump it over.

Doesn't work now Megan Smith coming the other way.

That one down the line out.

Wow.

I Definitely thought that ball was down, too.

And the difference between high school and college.

In college, there's a challenge you're allowed to challenge if you're unsatisfied.

But in high school you can't.

You just have to go with it.

And we see their Meghan Smith just overturning overcorrecting down the line and hitting out case serve Conway a few problems back the other way.

Fayetteville struggling with its nerves are certainly starting to creep in Smith attack on the outside blocked by Fayetteville one more time from Smith that one can't be handled and put down what a fun game Both teams defense is making really good plays and then Meghan Smith coming alive here in this fifth set favors liberal not able to handle that ball and that is a hard set to attack off the net out of system set by the liberal but she's able to control it deep to the corner Brian attack we're saying philosophy here this is exactly what we expecting and what you hope for.

The chant from the west, the chant versus the central duking it out the best of five and it's eight seven Conway here in the fifth.

Ella Bryant has such a high vertical tooling high hands off the block only five eight I've said it before but just a massive vertical Madison Williams serve for Fayetteville Anthony great job by Williams Williams has such a good flat float serve 11 aces now for Fayetteville in the match compared to nine for Conway that one handled by Smith for Conway.

Great touch there David Gibson.

We haven't told her name in maybe about 20 or 30 minutes, but she comes up big there.

A huge boon for the lady cats gives them the lead Gibson with great court awareness, great court vision.

Seeing the open court sometimes all it takes is a little tip to it.

Not a ton of power behind that ball, but that's all she need is she's so smart on offense Brian with the tip Conway is there aren't there defensively though they go outside to go for that one of those long nine nine and we are tied again if you're not entertained I don't know what would entertain that this one has certainly not disappointed in any phase or fashion.

Willie Moser on the Serve for Fayetteville.

Every point so crucial now at this juncture of the match.

Quick set for Conway in Zimmerman's attack dug out by Fayetteville may get it back across.

Another quick set, another tip.

This time, Zimmerman just finds the hole.

Conway back on top.

Conway's middles are so small right on offense, she swung.

It was dug up, and then she does such a good job working towards the center.

She's moving towards the center.

Super fast approach there and tipping it to the open court.

White on serve for Conway to go outside the harp her attack the threat to get to that and that's back the other direction if this were destroyed and points left and right as you would expect in a match tied in the fifth, the numbers are almost equal 55 kills now for Fayetteville, 49 for Conway Harp at 27 kills, she may break 30 kills, which is so unique.

It really doesn't happen that often in volleyball.

Harrelson Back at Serve, she's got three aces today, but Conway handles that one now on a cross for coming right at one now.

Nice job by Fayetteville.

Scramble drill now for both sides Hearts attack can't be handled by Conway Lady Bulldogs back on top and that's why you put forth so much effort on defense keeping that ball alive keeping the play going, letting your offense attack the ball and harp taking care of it like she has been all season and all match.

1110 Fayetteville As Conway takes the time out, we'll keep it here courtside and drama with both of these sides You're just leaving it all out there.

A couple female players dove over media row.

We had another one coming back at us here at the scorer's table.

And is this is what it's all about in the championship matches.

But trophies are down to our left.

They're going to be making its way onto the floor.

And it's got to find out who's going to take it home.

Blood, sweat and tears.

If you're ever going to leave everything out on the court, you leave it all out there.

During the state final.

Now, this one has not disappointed in any phase or fashion.

When Conway needs to answer, they have done so.

They won sets two and four, the three time defending champs from one sets one and three and they've got an 1110 lead and ball in hand is Zoe Harrison's back to serve.

Both sides have taken one time out.

We might have a couple more stoppages in these the final five or six points.

Quick set there.

Nice job by Conway and a tap job gets it done for Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, her 14th kill of the night, hitting well over 500.

So efficient, just such a good job speeding up to into her approach.

And then the tip has really been working for her fayetteville's defense having a hard time defending that Offspeed shot they set Floyd now serving for Conway in an 11 all match, going outside the Hart blocks there for Conway, Jones and Zimmerman set up a wall and they get the job done and they've got a 1211 lead.

If you're ever going to slow down, Harp, now is the time to do so in the red zone in the fifth set.

And then look at that passion.

Floyd serve dives right over the net.

Nice job there, but Fayetteville handles it harp hammers one.

CONWAY Those scrambles, they get it back across.

And you got to believe Harps is going to be fed until she puts it down.

Nice job there at the net and paired with whether to Isabella three the freshman taps it to your side and ties the match up the dozen And that was great calmness and composure by just a freshman.

She didn't need to do much with that ball.

She just needed to block it, control it on to the other side of the net.

And she delivered in every way that she needed to.

Megan Smith there for the initial block, but she couldn't handle the rebound and we were tied at 12 apiece.

Quincy Schaefer on serve, as you've mentioned a couple of times today.

She leads the Fayetteville in assists this season.

Add to it, couldn't decide if she wanted to let it go or return it.

And that one hit the Conway Defender.

And now Fayetteville has a 1312 lead and that's the advantage of the float serve.

It moves a lot in the air The liberal who is their best passer their best serve receiver wasn't able to tell if that was going to float in or out.

That's a tough such a tough play.

Almost this.

You don't really understand it until you're trying to receive a serve how much a ball knuckles on you and it sitting there just kind of floating at you and you add the the stage on it's a 12 ball match and she just couldn't make up her mind and it tips off her shoulder and gives Fayetteville the lead.

Exactly That's a pretty easy error to make.

With everything on the line, you're deciding whether or not to play the ball.

It's moving.

Everything happened so quickly in this sport.

Sometimes hard to make those quick twitch moves and those decisions in your mind.

So it's 1312.

Fayetteville If you're tuning in for the two state championship game, don't go anywhere.

We're running a little long.

Mansfield, Conaway Question Coming up next, we got a six day championship through the side, Fayetteville serving up a points here in the fifth year.

Schaefer Allen's deep but handled by Conway.

Quick set there for Zimmerman to back the other way miscommunication and I Conway and now it's championship point for the window Bulldog Conway their communication breaking down just a little bit here at the end again going to 15 and set number five so this is championship point for Fayetteville that serve not have gone long but they handle it Zimmerman with the touch now Fayetteville got a chance going back to harp for attack dug out by Conway they get it back across and Fayetteville is going to try to reset again back outside the harp or attack back across these two teams are slugging it out harp one more time and attack goes wide.

You try to do too much after two really good attacks to the volleyball call returns to try to thread that needle a little too much.

And that's why I say why exactly.

That's what happens when you play against really solid defense.

You get dig a bunch of times.

So then you have to do things that are usually out of your comfort zone and that are uncomfortable and it's easier to air.

But how about that shoulder dig by Conway going all out serve by Zimmerman's handled by Fayetteville they go back on the attack the harp crosscourt handle begin by Conway Jones the ball deflected down and we're tied again and Fayetteville is going to take a timeout.

The youth on display for both sides with sophomore Jones credit with the curl and this is what you want in a finals fifth set it's going to go into overtime.

You have to win by two.

Conway's defense really keeping them in it and then stepping up on offense.

What a fun game.

You could not have asked for more in a match, let alone the state championship of the largest classification in Arkansas.

We're tied at two.

And as you mentioned, this one's going to take more than 15 points to win it.

And these two teams are this duking it out.

Fayetteville back on the floor after the time out.

But Conway staying in the huddle, this is unchartered waters really for everybody.

Fayetteville has won three straight titles.

Well, they've kind of made it look easy the last couple of years, but both teams out of timeouts.

And so we're going to settle this on the floor.

Emily Zimmerman, back to serve.

The 511 seniors have been so good for Conway today.

14 kills served handled by Mosher outside the harp.

All attacks blocked by Conway again outside the harp a tough set there blocked again and left out or credited with a kill.

Now Fayetteville has got a 1514 lead that's harp's 29th kill of the day.

Have yourself a match.

Fayetteville needs one more point.

Let's see if HARP can create some chaos.

And she's back to serve with the championship on her hands.

Look to the cross.

Conway handles it but can't get it.

Attack now Fayetteville Chance to win it Quick set in the middle boy down a part of it several times it what a match by both of these teams with Fayetteville had just enough they going to touch Conway's block can't come up with it in the end and the Lady Bulldogs post a 1614 victory in match number game number five and they take it 3 to 2.

We're going to step aside.

Trophy presentation, an MVP coming up.

What a match we just had.

You've been watching the Centennial Bank State volleyball Championship on Arkansas, PBS Sports.

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This We're back here inside Bank Ozark Arena where Fayetteville just gutted out a32 victory over Conway in the six eight state championship in the Lady Bulldogs from northwest Arkansas for the fourth consecutive year are your state champion Conway receiving their runner up trophy.

And man I know they can't give out two gold plaques but that's that's a team that certainly deserved to celebrate today but instead Fayetteville just had a little too much.

Exactly.

Fayetteville performed so elite every area of the court.

And what makes this so impressive is that last season they all they had everyone basically leave afterwards.

They have one starter coming back this season and they're able to do a four peat.

So impressive.

But props to Conway, of course, who took this team to five sides.

Fayetteville just edged it out.

Fayetteville takes the hardware from Nick last year from the triple AA, the fourth consecutive year Jessica feeling and company have won the state championship.

It's mighty impressive.

Let's take a look at the stat for this six eight championship match.

There's a lot of numbers of Ragan Harp's going to be at the top of it as far as kills is over the overall team Aces pretty even digs pretty even kills.

You see the eight point advantage there for Fayetteville and a match that was that close.

You expect the numbers to be that close.

Exactly.

You would you expect an overtime game in the fifth set?

One team wins by two.

But Ragan Harp 29 kills really leading her team.

That was the difference maker right there.

CONWAY Right.

And it's such a solid performance.

But Fayetteville doing what they do best is winning state championships.

So that's it for the six day state volleyball championship Fayetteville in Conway this duke it out everyone take look at some of the highlights in this one and there was plenty of it.

So you talk about the number of kills between these two teams, 110.

If I'm a math major, there's two teams that's really duke it out after the first set and really halfway through the second set, I thought Fayetteville was like, okay, that they kind of look like they're going to overpower it.

But the guts and determination of Conway battled right back.

It was Conway's defense that really kept them in it.

Their block really came alive, but then it was rag in half.

And Brian, it's a Tanga did it.

Getting that back in it So many kills from both sides Solid performance so Fayetteville three Conway as the Lady Bulldogs have won their fourth consecutive six day volleyball championship and we are just getting warmed up today.

I don't know if you've got it, honey, but I need it for my voice because we got four more matches.

We take a look at the next match up.

It's going to be the two state volleyball championship and a chance for a defending champion again is Mansfield, who's won the previous three titles, going for four feet of their own, taking on Conway Christian.

These two teams met earlier in the regular season, but today it's for all the marbles, so this one will come up about 20 minutes.

So stick around.

The two state volleyball championship is coming up next.

So for Madison Fitzpatrick, I'm Bobby Swafford.

Thanks for tuning in.

As you've been watching the Centennial Big state volleyball championship on Arkansas, PBS Sports.