Beautiful look at the Arlington downtown Hot Springs in.

Just a short jump from there as well.

You'll find us.

We are inside bank OTCPK arena for the final championship match of the evening, and we've got maybe the biggest heavyweights in the states.

As it's the Centennial Bank state Volleyball Championship presented by Everett Buick, GMC and I guess the challenger, if you call it a heavyweight title match has got to be South side, even though they've been to the state championship game now four times in the last five years.

Madison Fitzpatrick was alongside Bobby Swafford, but Southside is well, they're not an underdog to most, but they're certainly an underdog today, 100%.

I mean, just watching Fayetteville warm up, they have got some heavy hitters and they are here to play today.

Lydia Pitts leads the way for Southside, just the sophomore, but 300.

And 62 kills and an impressive 380 hitting percentage.

Yeah, coach said.

Even as a sophomore, she acts and she plays like a senior.

Just the mental and physical maturity that she has, she said.

No matter what, you can't get riled up even in these high pressures, pressure situations.

So I know they're probably gonna look to Lydia a lot here tonight.

Yeah, let's take a look at the South side starting lineup for the Lady Mass, who come into this record at 30 and seven.

Head coach Natalie Throneberry took over in 2019 as the head coach joined South Side as an assistant coach in 2010.

Also played at Sauce.

I didn't wanna state championship or two under then head coach coach Hauser now but you can see the lineup they're gonna roll out there tonight.

Facing a Fayetteville team that is ranked #5 in the nation, 36 and two.

As we take a look at the lineup that is absolutely loaded.

Five Division One commits and we'll start at the top of the top 2 Kennedy feeling.

But also Brooke Rockwell who's committed to playing Stanford.

Yeah, Brooke walk, Rockwell coach said.

She's really explosive, really fast off the ground, super fiery.

And she says she's the center security blanket word for word.

The center looks to her to get the job done.

495 kills on the season and just 38 matches.

You do the math.

I'm not a great math guy, but that's double digits and also plays around the full rotation.

233 digs second on the team with 64 aces.

She does it all, of course.

Fayetteville is going to look to her to get the job done when they might finally into a bind.

This is not the first time these teams have met each other this year either.

This is the third time Fayetteville and Southside, of course.

Competitors in the 6A W squaring off Fayetteville won both of those in the sweep.

I guess I should probably should mention before at some point, Fayetteville has not lost a set to anybody from the state of Arkansas this year.

So of course they're looking to complete a sweep and complete what many are considering the best season of any high school volleyball team in Arkansas history.

We are almost set for the final match of the day and if any indication of the previous match the 5/8 championship, we should be locked in for a good one as Fayetteville is taking on Southside.

The Southside head coach coach.

Throneberry now that's a fun last name, she said.

The theme of the year is grit, so I think if they're gonna come out this game with a win, they're gonna have to use that theme and put it to the test and really be gritty.

Southside pulled what some would consider an upset in the semifinals, as they took down Conway not only knocked off the Wampus Cats, but completed a sweep.

A lot of people thought it was going to be Conway who ran the table in the 6A Central and Fayetteville, but the Lady Mavs had something to say about that, and they're hoping to.

We'll put an end to.

Fayetteville's dream season and the Lady Bulldogs are the defending state champion.

They've got six titles to their name in school history, including the last two, so we're looking for another 3 peats and it's been kind of a theme this weekend as we were getting set for first serve right here inside bank OZK Arena.

South side, the visiting team on the scoreboard, we're in the Columbia Blue, say we're in the black and purple.

And just like that, Fayetteville's offense goes on the attack.

And that's our first look at #6 Reagan harp.

She's committed to play at the University of Central Arkansas 5-6 senior and doesn't have a lot of size as far as height.

The more she can get off the ground, Oh yeah, she can.

And she's got those long arms.

She hits that ball at the top.

And just snaps.

And that was a really good swing by her.

Talking with coach feeling earlier this week is that service is gonna go down as an ace.

Coach feeling said they don't, they aren't the tallest team, not the tallest fables had in recent history, but they are explosive.

We saw them in warm up, they can get off the ground and you mentioned it, they put the ball straight down.

Little miscommunication there.

Another ace for Fayetteville and you can tell the nerves are already sitting there for South side.

Even though they're used to playing in this championship game, lining up against a a Fayetteville star-studded squad like this has got to be a little bit intimidating.

Ohh 100%.

And the key to this is going to be, like I said before, grit.

You gotta shake off the nerves.

You have to eliminate the jersey on the other side of the net, don't think about who you're playing and just play Southside volleyball.

Rockwell's first attempt goes back to her and she hammers that one home.

Brooke Rockwell, 496 kills now on the season.

Impressive player.

As I mentioned in the opening, she's going to Stanford.

Here's a good look at try #2.

Just puts it down.

And Fayetteville already out to a four nothing lead.

Super quick arm swing by Rockwell.

The block for Faville looking impressive so far.

And now it's hip.

The South side came out to good attack.

You can sell.

The South side is just a little bit out of storage and that was deflected and now the lady maps are gonna get on the board.

There's the grit that we were talking about, the defense, no matter the hitter on the other other side of the net, you get underneath the ball and you pass it up.

Defense is gonna win them this game.

South side just needs to settle in.

Of course, this is a long way to go.

We call it a marathon, not a Sprint.

Nice job, our walk wheel to take a little off that one.

Find the hole in the middle of the defense.

Her second kill of the match already now five, one Lady Bulldogs, so smart and so deceptive.

She comes in really strong with the big approach, making it look like she's going to swing deep, and then she drops her shoulder and just gives a little roll shot to the hole.

That service into the net sheet point for South side and we'll certainly take anything they can to kind of stop the bleeding early.

This is a good look at Tinsley Freeman, the libero for Southside.

She was a player that coach Throneberry told us to keep an eye on.

56 aces on the season.

Coach said.

If you tell her to run through a wall, she will, and I guess that's what you want out of your libero.

I sat by feeling and you could just see the teamwork.

You can tell these two have been just playing aside one another so much.

Just an effortless pass from feeling and Rockwell throws it down.

Chemistry between a passer, a setter and a hitter is so important.

They obviously have really good chemistry, setter and hitter making really good connection.

And then you see Rockwell's range and we'll have a football.

Football.

First time we've seen that in five matches today.

And a lot of the times with the jump top spin like Rockwell just did, you're really going for it.

You foot fault a little bit more than if you were just gonna do a float.

Trying to get as close to that line as possible.

You're not cheating.

You're not trying.

I got caught that time.

That's a first look at Madden Lafata.

She's another one of these Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs going to play at Division One.

The Lefty 511 senior going to Dartmouth, 364 hitting percentage this year.

It's a fantastic hitting percentage and you see why she has so much power and she is so strong behind every single kill.

It's a ton of speed, another service there for Fayetteville, so if you're looking for a * in the armor early on for the Lady Bulldogs, that has been the service game.

And I'm sure South side is very appreciative of that.

Throneberry did tell us yesterday that they're a team, that if they're going to be successful, they have to limit their own errors and force their opponents into making errors.

Fayetteville helping out a little bit so far, but Lafata?

Another big swing with the left hand and another kill.

It might be because we're sitting down, but the angle that we're at, it looks like she's jumping about 5 feet into the air.

You can just tell the length of the arms of this Fayetteville players too.

And of course, you being a former college volleyball player at Florida State, you just know the importance, not necessarily of height, but also of length, height, length.

Yes, 100%.

Because that gives you the advantage over the blocker.

You're able to put the ball down a little bit better.

A nice job there by South side as they answer right back.

Allison.

Excuse me, that's Lydia Pitts looking at the wrong roster there.

It's 510 sophomore for the Lady Mavs.

This puts one down right in the middle of the Fayetteville squad and I'll go ahead and apologize now, probably at some point I'll probably call him the Lady Rebs.

Southside was the rebels for so long.

I've tried to get it out of my brain.

Is that one put down by Rockwell, but you know, you hear something for so long and just kind of, it kind of pops up every now and then.

Rockwell with the back row attack so far, we've seen a lot of range from her.

We've seen the roll shot, we've seen the deep corner swing, and then we've seen the back row attack.

95 Fayetteville here in the opening set of this 6A state championship game.

A quick set there for South side.

Couldn't take advantage of it though.

Harp.

Attack as thwarted and nice job there by South side to answer back.

Gabby Dupree, another sophomore South side is loaded with underclassmen.

293 kills now on the season for the 511 outside hitter, it's a really good spot by her.

And while they might not be as powerful as Fayetteville, they can still find the holes and play smart volleyball.

Nice block there from the South side front.

Wow.

See if their offense can take advantage of it.

Nice dig coming in Mia Bedke.

Scramble drill.

Southside does.

Get it over.

Police can't give fair they're too many opportunities and a big time.

Hammer dropped again by Rockwell.

My mouth is gaped open.

Look at that tight set.

But she's she jumped so high, just got that snap on the ball with the power behind it.

That's her fifth kill of the night, hitting 667.

Nice tip there by Southside to earn a cheapie Sophia and Ihouse Sophia Niehaus.

Excuse me, 59 Junior 21 there in the middle.

She saw all that open court and took advantage of it.

10 seven lady Bulldogs out in front.

That serve goes long, I guess if you know of course you don't like to compare matches throughout the day.

We're talking two way all the way through 6A.

But if there has been 1 consistent and that has been the service game going going long for most of the day, it's very true.

And that's just a testament to the nerves in the high stakes.

You put a lot of power behind that because you got a lot of energy.

You're revved up for the game.

South Side's first attempt blocked at the net.

And I'll see if Fayetteville can take advantage with their offense.

Lafata.

She tries to go down the line, but misses.

First miss for lafata?

And lafata being a left-hander, it makes it so hard for the blocker to read her arm.

And to block that swing.

So definitely an advantage for her.

11/8.

Southside trailing but on the serve.

Rockwell right in the middle.

She scored it again, the South side defense right in the middle and elevated.

It pits 73rd block of the season for the 510 sophomore.

She just has a really good read on the ball.

She saw that Rockwell wanted to swing cross and she dove into that angle a little bit dropped her right hand and got the block.

How much gamesmanship goes and goes into it.

You're setting up a block but you know a player across from you can either go down the line they go across the court is if you had guessed you try to read their eyes how do you how do you read that you read their shoulder which which sounds a little funny now that I'm saying it but that's just what I've been told my entire life.

You look at their shoulder and and somehow playing volleyball you just know what that means lafata.

Answers right back there on the left-handed swing from the other side and puts it down for the kill.

Pushes that advantage for Fayetteville back to three.

And I serve right on the line South side, a little miscommunication.

You know that you can't give Fayetteville a free ball because good teams like that, they're gonna have a perfect pass and a perfect set and put the ball away immediately.

Yeah, Libby Lindsey comes off the bench and she gets the kill there.

83rd Spike of the season.

Outside trying to answer back as they trailed by 4.

Lafata.

Blocked at the net.

That's.

One thing that's already sticking out in my mind, Madison is South side at the net defensively is strong but not strong enough there.

No, not strong enough there at all.

That was a a pretty fast set.

And then her arm swing is just so quick so she gets up and just even in the slow mode you can tell how fast her arm swing is.

And then the blocker, the middle blocker for Southside, couldn't get there in time.

11 kills for Fayetteville, their first 14 points, and that one's going to go along for the South side.

And this little, I think, believe this is the largest.

Treatment for the Lady Bulldog sitting at 6.

Southside's going to need to stop them soon before they go on an even longer run, Fayetteville hitting 409 as a team already.

Wow, I haven't seen that stat all day.

That's impressive.

South Side tries to answer of animals, see what that one's gonna be say deflected by Fayetteville and hits the pin which indicates out of bounds near the official so.

Southside does stop the run momentarily.

And that's that one up.

Fayetteville, get credit for that point.

Yep, Yep, Yep.

My fault.

It's OK South side hit it into the antenna.

I don't think it told her.

So 16 nine Fayetteville.

A quick set in the middle and the tip, they're nicely placed by pits for Southside.

I'll tell you what, Pitts loves that little * right over the block she sees the hole in.

She's gone after it twice now, and both have been killed.

You see her with the big approach and never seen a tip like that, but it works.

You see faith, we'll sit three defenders to pits right there in the middle, and this tips it over all three.

Without another big strike right at the net and she's having herself a huge opening set.

She and Rockwell both have five kills and pooch Throneberry seen enough for now as they're going to take a time out 1710, so we'll take it with them.

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Fayetteville heavily favored #1 team in the state, #5 in the country already out to a 1710 lead on conference rival Southside.

And these two teams have scored off more times than not.

Conference play, Tournament play, championship play.

Southside has the third most state championships in state history.

They've got 8.

The last one, though, came back in 2013.

They've been to the title game for the last five years, but they've been a bridesmaid all four time.

Well, the first three times, I should say.

Trying to avoid that today.

See, Rockwell tries to put one down from behind, and that one finally does catch the orange vinyl.

As we found out earlier today, playing surface is made of Yep.

One thing that I'm very impressed with is.

Kennedy #4 the setters defense, even though she's the setter if they're hit the ball to her, she's a really good defender as well.

209 digs coming into this championship match for Kennedy Feelin.

Nice job there for Southside.

Just take what the defense will give you, find a hole.

And that's exactly what.

Riley twisted the five seven junior.

Yep, that's where South Side's been most effective.

That tip?

Right over the block.

Twist has been active this season.

160 kills now.

Harbin catch all of that one, but South side's defense had to scramble to touch.

That one goes right into the net, so S sides put together back-to-back points and see if they can inch their way back into this set.

Obviously the first set's gonna set the tone for the evening.

Momentum so big, we've seen 4 sweeps today.

Nice attack there again by Pitts, and you could tell the South side offense runs through her.

Her knife attempt with third kill of the match?

Yep, you can tell she's there.

Reliable hitter.

So the center's gonna set her a lot to get those kills.

Felicity Suggs on the serve.

Lafata, again, you can just, it's just so tough that left-handed swing coming from outside of the antenna coming back in and just don't know where she's gonna put it.

And also it's coming with such velocity even if it hit goes right into your arms, you got to be strong enough to to get it back over the other side.

Yeah, that's what I was going to say.

You have to really lock out your arms if you're going to block her because she has so much strength.

She's just gonna kind of push you over if you're not really strong up there.

A really good effort there from South side Syriana Tefs, but she goes into the the media table.

Another point for Fayetteville 2013 their score.

A little knuckler just does clear the the net.

That's the first short serve I've seen all day.

Feeling tries to go up for one.

A nice job defensively for South side to knock it down.

The net stands 7 feet 4 1/4 inches and I think that serve went 7 foot 5 inches and it barely just made it over it.

Southside able to rally back and win the point.

You have the short serve usually effective in getting another team out of system.

That attack goes long on the South side, just hanging around.

2015 their tally.

Now that's Kennedy's first two attempts at hitting it.

It makes sense to have a few errors right off the bat until she gets warmed up.

Go to her third time.

That time she does get it down and that's the sign of a mature player.

You made two errors.

You're gonna take a little bit of heat off of it, get consistent and and get the feel of it before you start to fill out swing again.

So you see feeling 940 assists on the year.

Obviously that leads the team.

Is it normal to have someone who's the distributor at be also 4th on your team and kills?

No, it's not normal and that's a huge compliment to her.

She's going to play indoor and beach at Florida State and that's where you kind of get the beach.

Well, she's good at a little bit of everything.

She can hit, she can set, she can dig, she can do it all.

So she's gonna be a really good beach and indoor player for them.

Nice attack there.

That one goes wide in Fayetteville.

Now there's three points away from taking this opening set and coach Throneberry gonna take a time out for Southside, so we'll take it with them.

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First set is nearing a conclusion as Fayetteville just three points away from taking this ever important first sets and Madison Fitzpatrick, Bobby Swofford here talking volleyball and you know we we mentioned it earlier in the broadcast and but how important is the first set and of course we've seen 4 sweeps today, so it's obviously you know step out on a limb there.

It's really important but this momentum is so big especially the high school game.

Ohh, exactly.

Momentum is everything and we've seen it happen four times today.

The team that comes out most confident swinging the heart is playing the most consistent consistently.

We'll have the momentum and take it into all three, so if Fayetteville can take this first set, they definitely have a huge advantage moving forward.

That's a great job by Gabby Dupre.

Coming out of the timeout #9 right there pictured on your lucky box, puts one down.

Harp on the attack for Fayetteville and she answers right back.

And believe you called that A twist earlier, a little slide, trying to get the technical jargon.

That's when an attacker kind of loops around the center kind of, I guess.

Confuses the defense ever so slightly.

And it's a different angle.

Exactly.

You're the middle hitter.

You're gonna wrap around behind.

It's gonna make the blocker go with you and kind of confuse the defense.

Now listen, yeah, you do.

Nice job by Southside there to find out where the Fayetteville defense wasn't.

2317 Candice Go trade point for point, though if your South side gotta put together a run and it's gonna fall on the service of Gabby Dupree.

Not a bad one though.

46 aces on the season.

Rockwell's attack is dugout and nice job by they both thought that one might have caught the antenna.

It didn't, but Southside able to just * one over and find the middle of the unoccupied defense night house.

With the point she comes in, she hides it pretty well and there's still space right there.

Tip it right into the open court.

That's where she's been most effective.

Was served by Dupree dugout on the back row for Fayetteville Weilert and then put down by Rockwell.

The range of Rockwell, I've said it once, I'll probably end up saying it a few times.

It's just incredible.

She can hit probably every single spot on the court and I think she already has and it's just the first set up.

She's one of the few high school volleyball players you'll see play around the rotation.

Fayetteville, though.

Excuse me?

Southside coming right back, a big kill right in the middle so the lady Maves not going away quietly.

If you're South side, you just wanna stay aggressive, you wanna gain some momentum.

It's OK if you don't win the first set, but you wanna get momentum for the second night house credited with the kill there.

But that service goes wide and that's gonna be the first set for the Lady Bulldogs of Fayetteville, the two time defending state champion.

And he's got the upper hand.

2519 is your score in set number one, we're going to step aside.

QuickTime out set #2 coming up as you're watching the Centennial Bank state Volleyball championship presented by ever Buick GMC.

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Student All Star for 6A is Kennedy met her.

She's playing here tonight.

Southside High School set her senior 4.26 GPA.

Yeah, that's correct.

She plans to major in biology, attend medical school and become a pediatrician specializing in neurology.

So she is very smart.

That's your Arkansas PBS student All Star for 6A.

Congratulations, Kennedy.

I never knew.

The GPA went about four.

Now now you're throwing 4.26 at me, and she's about to change the world.

So congratulations to Kennedy matters for being smarter than my GPA.

Even knew it went up that high.

Fayetteville took the opening sets and now they take the lead to start set #2 as guests who Brooke Rockwell Hammers one home.

My grandma sometimes says volleyball is like poetry in motion, and that was poetry, the jump said.

It looks like she could go on too, and then she just sets her outside and fantastic kill.

Going on 2 means going across the net on just the second hit, correct?

Yes, yes, correct.

Catch the other team off guard.

Nice job by South side there.

Sophia Niehaus is having herself a nice evening so far.

6 kills that already in the match, hitting 5:45.

So every other time she puts it into attack, good things are happening for the lady mass.

Fantastic hitting percentage, harp answers right back.

Reagan harp, I'm not a misspoke earlier.

I think that she's 6 foot one going to UCLA 3rd on the team and kills with 213.

There's a lot of teams that would love to have that as your leader ohh 100% with those long arms and you saw with that hit she just kind of swat it down.

And that's what you do when you're that tell you just swat the ball.

Nice effort there for Fayetteville.

They couldn't answer back the night house.

She's had a lot of success in the middle, she and pits, but South side has to find some way to get a little more offense from a few different players on the floor.

Kind of keep Fayetteville defense off balance exactly.

And my house doing a good job of it so far, but it'd be nice to get other players involved.

Rockwell.

That one dugout, though?

Bottle of barrel for Southside Freeman.

That's that's the two touch you were talking about earlier.

You know that jump set you kind of lows just asleep and feeling caught the South side defense off guard there and he's gonna be a good look at it.

And this finds the hole cheap.

Easy point for Fayetteville.

I've been waiting for that.

It's so deceptive.

It's almost impossible for South side to see coming.

Nice attack there for South side Fayetteville.

Get it over.

They do.

They do a nice job in the scramble drill.

Night house attacks right into the middle, and the three bodies there for Fayetteville couldn't keep it out.

My house is giving Fayetteville a run for their money with three blockers there and.

Just sneaking it right past him.

We've seen that a lot from Fayetteville.

Defense is, is that a normal defensive scheme?

Especially, I guess, if you're facing someone as dominant as night house has been.

Yep.

If you are a really high level playing team like Fayetteville is, and you know you're going up against a pretty good hitter, if all three of your blockers can get there, you should get them there.

Yeah, obviously South side can't do the same with so many weapons on the side for Fayetteville, lafata.

Finds the orange turf.

Want to pass there?

Outside though trying to answer back and.

Because that's the thing that's so unique about what Fayetteville can do is doesn't matter where they are on the floor where she sets it.

Feeling can put it pretty much anywhere but S sides.

Having none of it doesn't matter as they hammer that one home.

Now, Southside staying in, if they're not shying away a lot of the times of another team beats you, you're gonna get a little little tentative, maybe do more tipping, a little roll shot, but no South side saying aggressive, which is exactly what they need to do if they want to stand a chance.

There's Malia Neal on the serve.

We're all squared up at 4 piece here in set #2.

Rockwell tries to deliver from behind the second line, but that one sails long and believe this will be South side's first lead of the match.

Yeah, maybe get them some momentum.

We see a replay here Rockwell going forward, but just slightly out.

Great job by Dupree to recognize there's too much steam on that one.

Let's it go by.

Nice job by the block.

Again by the South side front.

Good coverage.

Lafata again trying to find the hole in the middle of that Southside defense, but can't.

Nice job closing by the Lady Maves.

Quick set from feeling again, this is one of the best points of the night.

What a rally.

In Faville, put it away.

Excellent positioning on both sides.

That one deflected and finally finds the floor and South side wins a marathon of a point.

Lydia pits with the kill lady Maves up 64, Lydia Pitts coming up big in that play.

Whenever long rallies go like that, the winner of that point, it's almost like they get two points.

That's how much momentum you get.

See if Southside can take advantage.

They can't.

That serve goes long.

That's that's a brutal break there for South side.

You want to be able to take advantage of that long point and.

You don't get an opportunity to do so because of the long serve, exactly.

You really want to capitalize off that point.

It's actually rough the Sir for Fayetteville.

Nice block there in the middle.

Harp elevates and sends it back to which it came from.

Fantastic block, straight down and and that's why you have two people on the middle sometimes.

We got Lindsey and Harp closing that block, pressing over the net, and there was nowhere for that middle hitter to go.

Just nowhere to put it.

6 all.

Nice tip there again by South side.

Pitts is trying to exploit the middle of that defense.

Maybe that's something they saw during the state tournament.

Of course, the the two times they faced him early, maybe not just not rotating quick enough.

Or maybe this is how they line up defensively.

South side, trying to take advantage of that little hole.

Yep.

Usually if you're Fayetteville, you wanna see that the hitter drops their shoulder and looks like they're gonna tip.

You usually try and read that and then crash in.

But Fayetteville having a hard time reading that?

Yep.

No trouble reading that when Lafata puts it down with a sporty.

It's so fun to watch.

That is such a fast swing.

I don't know if it translates to television, but it sounds different when it comes off her hands.

It does like a pal.

In Southside trying to find that hole.

Tom Fable converges keeps the point alive.

Don't ever say that one caught the line.

Called it in.

Yeah, coach Jessica Freeland didn't like that call, but that one's gonna go the way of South side.

And that's why you go for those lines because on the occasion they land in and the defenders not close to it or they let it go because they think it's going out.

So South side is gone for that little hole, I call it the hole is right behind the block.

And so now that maybe that forces the back row to creep up a little bit and that's why you tried a gun for that, I guess that back line, that's exactly why that serve goes wide left and it evens it up at 8.

This is what I wanted to see from Southside, just staying in it.

Fayetteville's gonna have those big swings.

They have those players, but they make those plays and you're like, OK, now it's our turn.

Ohh, that one goes right into the net and Rockwell, frustrated with herself, knew she had an open lane and missed it.

That was a hard swing to hit.

She tried to go out that left-handed.

It was a pretty tough one, but you see there from the middle hitter, they have three players blocking her.

That one goes long.

Both sides taking the lead a few different times and not been able to add to it because the service errors.

Southside's hitting percentage this set is 273 in Fayetteville's only hitting 158.

So Southside doing a little bit better with hitting efficiency this game.

When you're playing a team like Fayetteville, you can't give away any points.

A nice job there by Niehaus to, excuse me, night house to find a hole, but I was gonna finish that thought.

You can't get Fayetteville extra points in five service areas for the Lady Mavs.

Exactly.

You really have to eliminate those errors.

You can't give them any free points.

They're gonna get so many points on their own.

You can't give them any.

Here's the pre.

And he's talented sophomores for coach Throneberry.

That one blocked at the net.

Nice job by South side defensively.

Rockwell, right back at her.

Nice job again.

Southside doing a great job at the block and it forces failed to take the first time out.

The Lady Mavs 11-9 here in the second.

We've got a good one.

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There's a good look at the stats.

The attacks are even the kills.

The advantage of three for Fayetteville.

Few service errors have gone the Lady Bulldogs way and that's why they have a one O set lead, but they're trailing in set #2.

South side appears to have a little momentum as Fayetteville just burns the first of their second time.

First of two timeouts I should say.

And in this set, Yep, southside's got eight kills and Fayetteville has five so far this set, so.

And a lot of those kills had has come from Niehaus.

Yep, South side actually out hitting Fayetteville for the match, 259 to 241.

There's still a lot of time, a lot of match to be played.

Rockwell, what's that one into the net?

Though?

She tried to go cross court with it.

Just caught a little too much tape and now a 3 point advantage.

And it's hard when you're off the net that's set was a little bit off the net.

She tried to cut it too sharp, but when you're off the net you can't cut it that sharp.

Feeling mass attack there kind of came into it at an awkward angle, putting elevate as much as she normally does, but does find just enough of the ball and puts it down.

It's a sign of a good athlete.

You don't have to have the full approach every time, but you've got the hand contact.

You can jump up and place the ball where you want it to go.

Reflex is always so important in volleyball because you're never gonna get, you can't assume, a perfect set, so you have to be ready for anything exactly.

The father, she tries to go cross court and I save there by Southside.

Wow.

One more time for Lafata.

They're right there.

Nice defensive rotation.

Good read.

Rockwell again goes cross court.

Nice job you can just tell these two teams know, won't know what the other is gonna do and I couldn't, couldn't be handled there by Wyler's and South side pushes that advantage back to three.

The South side with the incredible defense, it seems like they're getting a better read on Fayetteville shoulder and they seem to know where the ball is going to go and they're in the right spots at the right time.

Third meeting this season between these two.

Rockwell, there's just no stopping that.

That's his perfect offense, and she hammers one.

The hang time on Rockwell is really incredible.

She's going to play beach volleyball at Stanford.

So you gotta be able to jump high in the sand and she's gonna do really well with that.

Of course, we're all used to beach volleyball in the Olympics.

How new is that as a as a a collegiate sport?

Yep.

I think it's about 7 years.

It's the fastest growing NCAA sport in history.

Many schools are picking it up every single year.

It's really growing.

And a lot more players, as you see even in Arkansas going to play beach volleyball.

They put that one down.

There's Fayetteville and the University of Central Arkansas has a beach volleyball team.

So not far from here, of course, just north of Little Rock and Conway.

The Purple bear is not really known to play in the sand, but I guess they do there.

Bears aren't really purple, you know?

No, that's true.

But it's it's pretty.

As an alumni, I can get away with saying those things.

Faithful on the attack again, a nice block by South side.

1312 Lady Mavs leading this sets.

I say there will keep it alive.

Lafata goes cross court and South sides right there to dig it out.

We had a great tip there, Kennedy feeling this all the South side was out of position and she just perfectly places it right inside that back line.

So smart we go Southside gave him kind of a free ball and she said Nope, we're not having it.

We're giving it back to you have 3 point lead for South sides now gone as we're all tied at 13.

My house, her swing goes.

Excuse me, pits.

Her swing goes wide.

Fayetteville regains the advantage.

Momentum heavily on Fayetteville side now, so we're gonna see South side maybe make some errors as they start to coil in and get less aggressive.

Don't handle that serve in South side now.

Faville on the attack Lafata blocked at the net.

The South side can respond, and feeling keeps it alive.

Nice dig there.

Good bong rally.

Yeah.

High level volleyball right here.

Lafata.

That one caught the antenna and they catch it.

So that's gonna be a point for the lady Mavs.

Lady Mavs sticking in it every single play.

Really high level volleyball.

Super fun to watch.

14 All here in set #2.

6A State championship game Fayetteville looking for their third straight and their 7th overall championship.

South side trying to add to their already eight titles in school history.

Quick sat there for Southside.

Nicely done feeling can't dig it out.

How big is it for South side to regain the lead there as Fayetteville had the the little rally to tie them and take a quick advantage with South side answers right back exactly.

You don't want to give any more wind underneath Fayetteville wings, you wanna kind of stay within that range and not give them any more confidence than they already have.

There for the lefty, and Lafata still finds a way to put one down.

So much power you see in here.

She almost attacked that ball kind of across.

Yeah, exactly.

Not even a full approach to sliced it sliced off the side of the ball and got it out an angle where South side wasn't ready.

Ashley Rough now on the service.

A quick set there favor with the deflection right at the Nets they're gonna try to attack.

So active both of these teams are defensively right at the point of attack.

One right after another.

You can just, you know, deflection after deflection that time a full block.

What a quick set there by feeling and harp hammers it down.

And feel it almost made it seem like she was going to go over with that set and try to attack it or send it over deep because she was facing the other side of the court, but no so deceptive.

Sets are middle.

All she has to do is snap being so tall.

Fayetteville, now up 1615.

Another quick set, another big time spike by harp.

That went almost straight down.

An absolute beast.

Let's take a look here.

Fantastic set such a fast arm swing and then you see that little crunch at the end where your whole body seems to come forward.

That's cause of the momentums in front of her.

She's moving forward.

And that's what gives that ball so much heat behind it.

Not only the velocity, but the angle of it there, just almost hitting it straight down, near impossible to defend.

Rockwell, her attack from the back line.

That one though catches too much net.

Not sure if it got over a blocked or not.

Either way, that one point for South side they pull back within the single digits 1716.

Lydia Pitts threw her hands up there for the celebration like she likes.

She blocked that ball, so let's give it to her good defense by Lydia Pitt.

Through South side can take advantage Lafata heart attack.

That's dugout nicely though on the back row by Neal.

Fable can't answer back.

There is Southside Dupris ties this match at 17.

It's Dupree's fourth kill of the night, hitting 273.

She's 3rd right now on her team for kills.

Data right in front of us.

Nice job there again by the Southside defense.

And that one deflected out.

Well, lady mass gonna take an 1817 lead.

It's really good work right at the Nat between 9:00 and 2:50 and pits for South side, they're just finding ways to to put a little pressure on the Fayetteville defense.

Exactly.

And and another thing that the blocker wants to do is they want to funnel the hit to their defenders and that's what they did right there.

They funneled that hit to be cross court straight to Marlene Neal, who got the dig.

That serve goes long though the 6th service air of the match for South side, and that allows Fayette will tie it back up at 18.

How many times have we said that Madison, the South side, got a chance to take a run and all of a sudden the service here costs them?

Exactly.

And and you don't want that to be your Achilles heel.

You don't want it to be the serve harp.

That quick set.

I didn't get all of it.

I'm not a caught her off guard but got just enough and South side defense couldn't rally to it and the Lady Bulldogs back in front.

That's why it's so important to mix up your shots.

Southside defense was ready for that hard hit that they've been seeing from HARP.

She just took a little bit off of it and.

Got the kill.

Dylan's attack shut right back at him.

That attack goes just long.

Southside didn't like the call.

Fayetteville takes a 20 to 18 advantage and coach Natalie Throneberry gonna take a time out.

You could see just the look on the face of the lady Mas.

They really wanted that call.

That does not go their way.

We'll step aside Fayetteville, five points away from taking a 20 lead.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state Volleyball championship presented by every Buick GMC.

Centennial Bank is committed to you.

Since our founding in 1999, we've become one of the nation's most trusted banks by remembering that you come first by empowering our communities to reach their highest potential through our dedication to local charities.

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Lead on conference rival South side here in the 6A State Championship match.

She's Madison Fitzpatrick.

I'm Bobby swafford.

Thanks for joining us tonight on your Saturday evening as we're hearing by inside Bank OCK Arena in Hot Springs, South side trying to rally back.

Nice job defensively to get back, though, from Fayetteville.

That one right into the net.

Rockwell trying to attack from deep and just didn't catch the right angle of there exactly.

She hit that ball a little lower than she usually does.

Usually she hits it at a higher angle.

It was also a lower set, so she had to speed up her approach.

And just couldn't cut it off at a high enough angle.

2019 Lady Bulldogs.

Add to it's this feeling elevates and drives one home Kaylan's 5th kill of the night.

She sets, she hits.

Here, we see the replay.

Look how high she gets.

Just a snap on the ball.

Really, really hard to dig.

Eilerts now in service A58 senior.

2119 Fayetteville Nice Sir, but what a great dig there by Freeman.

Let's say that hit the antenna point for South side.

Looks like the set was just a little too far outside for Rockwell's liking.

2120 and this isn't now, see if South side can take advantage.

Number one, put it in play off the surf.

Exactly.

This is where they need to make it serve.

And do just that harp heart attack though and that's the flexion at the net.

Southside gonna take it, try to take advantage.

Feeling though having none of it.

So athletic and so smart.

She feels Southside's defense a little shallow.

And so she says, OK, I'm gonna hit that ball deep.

And they're even shallow on serve receive.

South side plays a very shallow defense.

Harp now at service, 2220, Fayetteville.

Rockwell can't get a second touch on that South side defense and Fayetteville now starting to feel that momentum and the South side really had it in the middle part of this set.

It's starting to slip away though as coach Throneberry is going to take a time out.

We'll keep it here and you could say it 1000 times and he's probably not enough.

Just the importance of momentum and is keeping your foot on the pedal when you're.

You're facing A-Team, the quality of not only Fayetteville, but also South side.

Exactly.

And a part of keeping your foot on the metal on the pedal, pedal to the metal, yeah is swinging and being aggressive and not tipping.

And so we just saw me house with that tip because she felt the pressure from the three blockers.

It would have been really crucial for her to say, you know what, I'm, I'm going to swing.

I'm going to stop the momentum and and just power through more than just getting a little tippy.

If you want a copy of today's broadcast, all you've got to do is go to mmproductions.net, place your order, you can watch this.

Classic until you're 95 years old.

Here, the melodious tones of Madison Fitpatrick voice.

Beautiful.

2320 Fayetteville trying to closeout set #2.

Lady Bulldogs have not lost a set to a school from the state of Arkansas this year and a little miscommunication for Fayette or South side.

Excuse me, but they keep it alive.

Nice job defense.

A little bit Rockwell right at the net.

Another defensive block, Fayetteville coming up huge.

Nomination of feeling and Meg Gephardt there at the Nets and now it's set point for the Lady Bulldogs.

They're really putting a wall up at the net and it's putting a ton of pressure on South side causing them to tip and then when they do hit they get blocked.

Ohh that serve right into the net though you know I always hate to put too much stock into it but that championship pedigree and playing in so many big matches this year you know national tournaments for favor kind of looks like it's showing up in the last 6 to 8 points 100% the reps.

They get from all those tournaments playing against such high level teams that only makes you better and it's it's obvious that they're playing at such a high level tonight.

Let's dig out there by South side.

Shouldn't take anything away from the lady Mazzo.

They're playing exceptional tonight.

Rockwell.

That one deflected the fines.

The ground in Fayetteville takes A2 to nothing.

Set advantage as they take game number 22521.

Can the Lady Bulldogs completes A3 peat?

We're going to find out.

Coming up set #3 just moments away as you're watching the Centennial Bank state Volleyball championship presented by Everett Buick, GMC.

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If you want to relive all the action, all you've gotta do is go to youtube.com/arkansas PBS.

Starting on Monday, you can watch all five of these championship matches over and over again.

We've seen 4 sweeps today.

Is it going to be 1/5 as Fayetteville lead South side two nil.

And the set #3 is underway.

Freeman with the attack from the mid part of the offense.

Harp answers back for Fayetteville, though.

You can just see the familiarity with these two teams.

They know what what's coming at them exactly.

And that's why the rallies are so long, because they're being able to read each other so well.

It's all about execution.

Hmm, being disciplined in your rotations.

Another nice dig on the back Rd from Weilers and the tip from harp finally wins the opening point of set #3.

So smart when when you play somebody so many times like these two teams have obviously twice in conference play and now this is the third time this season but you saw each other all last earlier this week in the state tournament.

I mean it's you know what the other one is going to do exactly.

So there there's no surprising you at any point.

It's just about playing your game better than they're going to play their game at that point.

Nice job by Dupree to kind of punch that one.

Cross courts even up this match of 1 so Southside is played believe it's 38.

Over 37 and one.

Fayetteville is 36 and two on the season.

You're not reinventing yourself in the championship match.

I mean, you are who you are exactly.

The foundation is set.

You have all that success.

And yeah, I know you're not going to come into the state finals and be a different team.

Rockwell was kill #12 on the night for Fayetteville.

That's not the one thing that you have to be most impressed with, though, is just South side defensively at the net.

Again, they're much like Fayetteville.

They don't have great size as the ace there for Fayetteville.

But the elevate and positioning and I guess the discipline is what really stands out exactly.

It's the discipline, it's the reading.

And then it's the pressing your hands over the net and being strong.

Because, you know, Fayetteville's got such strong hitters.

Feeling leads the team in Aces with 79 for Fayetteville but Southside able to return that one but can't get it across the net.

Just was talking about blocking.

Meg Gebhardt able to get there.

close the block perfectly.

Rockwell set that block up nicely and.

They converted.

Will serve, not handle well from South side, and that one's an easy kill for lafata.

That's the best kind of kill.

That kill feels the best.

The other team gives you a free bill.

You're right on the net.

You just jump up, you snap your wrist, and yeah, it's done.

There's no block in front of you.

Used to.

We're seeing two and three bodies coming at you, and all of a sudden nobody's there.

Exactly.

It does make life a little easier for you.

You can tell the the block for Fayetteville's got in the head of South Side.

They're trying to tip more often than not without attack those wide.

And, you know, that's why you don't wanna tip too much.

Because the Fayetteville defense, they're smart.

Rockwell has a ton of digs.

They're gonna start to get those balls up and then.

Ohh sorry Rockwell feeling.

Honestly all of them have a lot of digs but Rockwell just turning that a little too sharp and it was out.

Nice serve there for South side and the ace.

I believe that was Tinsley Freeman, 13, labero.

She's wearing the red uni.

And a rogue volleyball on the floor.

It just wants to play.

Farrah, who's blocked at the net.

Nice deflection there again.

Fave Lancers right back.

Both teams putting up walls at the net.

Fable can't get enough of that one to get it over.

You're almost at your South side and granted you know it, maybe this is looking too much into it.

You you kind of struggled with the block.

Obviously Fayetteville defense is creeping up looking for the tip.

You try to attack the back line a little more 100%.

You want to mix in those deep swings just at least to push them back a little bit more on defense.

That way you can open up that tip that hole again.

There in the early going for South side, but not so much recently.

Again, nice job defensively by the Lady Mavs.

The father, though, he answers right back, goes cross court.

And there's the the side spin on that was he was right in front of our vantage point.

It's tough to defend.

Lafata loves that sharp cross court.

It's not, it's not too deep, it's not too sharp, it's just right, right in the scene.

You know in in basketball you can get used to a left-handed shooter.

Is that one's hammered home by pits and volleyball you.

I mean it's coming at you from so many different angles.

How different has a defender?

Is it to prepare yourself and tell yourself mentally?

OK, this one's left-handed.

It, it is very different, especially because during the play you're not thinking, oh, I remember that this one is left-handed like you expect her to come at it with her right hand because that's the most common.

And then in the speed of the game.

It's almost too fast for your brain to register.

Yeah, that one goes long, though, from lafata, and of course it would be easier if they were in the same spot.

But there's there's so much rotation and she plays all across the floor, you don't know where she's coming from.

And of course you add the, the, I guess the unusual arm angle just because it's it's not the common one as far as right-handed.

There's just a lot of things that that changes.

It's a recipe for success, a left-handed hitter who can play any position.

Again, South side with the service air.

The 7th of the match, it's kind of cleaned it up just a touch, but those seven have come at critical moments I feel.

Ohh yeah, you really need to eliminate those errors.

Serve aggressively, try and get Fayetteville out of system, but don't give them free points.

Quick set though Hartville didn't time result but through the South side defense off and she gets credited for the cheapie.

Harps 8th kill hitting over 500.

She's been successful 8 of 14 on the attacks.

The FONDAS has 11 kills, Rockwell leading the way with 12.

That attack goes wide.

And coach Throneberry told us that they're not a team that can suffer too many errors, especially against A-Team like Fayetteville.

They like to force you into making the errors, which it's been the other way around.

A little too much for her liking tonight, though, that was just their 9th attacking error.

That serve goes into the net.

That's the 5th service air for Fayetteville.

Yeah, a lot of service errors, but really when it comes down to it, that means they're being aggressive and they're going after it.

Fayetteville the side out percentage of almost 70%.

Nice job defensively, sets up the block there for Southside.

Looks like they gotta read on that left shoulder a little bit better that time.

That frontline for for South side has been really good.

They really have.

I would say that's the strong point right now is they're blocking.

Nice dig by Neal for Southside there a quick set again for HARP tries to tip that one.

Didn't catch the line though and South side able to tie this match up at 9.

That's the grit that coach Throneberry was talking about.

That's the grit that they need if they're gonna win.

It's OK if they're down by a little bit.

You keep going after every single ball.

Harpo drives that one, but I'm gonna say it wasn't touched and then it goes long.

So Southside gonna take a 10-9 lead, but the officials gonna get together and discuss this one.

Looks like the uprev isn't really sure, and it looked like the down ref wasn't really sure either.

One line judge held his flag up signaling out, but we'll see what they decide.

They are going to rule that the was deflected by South side, which will flip that score back.

Fayetteville takes a 10-9 lead and maybe circle that one mentally for you guys at home because that could be a big momentum swing.

Instead of South side taking the lead, it's Fayetteville who's on top and coach Throneberry not pleased with it.

That serve goes wide though, so kind of a moot point as we're tied up at 10.

And a lot of the times if you're South side you think, well, the ball never lies.

People say that a lot of volleyball.

The ball does have a brain.

Its name is Wilson.

Feelings attack.

Nice dig out on the back line.

Rockwell attacks from distance and finds open space there.

A nice job by Brooke Rockwell, 13th kill.

Of the eve.

That's why it's so good to have so many weapons on offense.

You never know who they're gonna set, and even if they're out of system, they can still find someone to get a good attack on the ball.

Castaway is a very depressing movie by the way.

Ohh, I cried my eyes out when he lost Wilson.

We've got plenty of Wilson balls to go around here.

Inside Banko ZK Arena is that one doesn't get across.

Four hits on South side and a 12-10 lead for Fayetteville Wilson.

Of course.

The official ball of the triple-A shameless plug.

Ellweiler it's on service.

Quick set there and my house has been kind of quiet for South side and that time they couldn't get the block up.

I'm not sure if viewers at home understand how hard it is to do what Kennedy feeling just did.

Barely any approach jumping up, getting a lot of height, hitting on to and just powering through that block.

So impressive.

The idea is you're gonna catch the defense off guard.

They think she's gonna set it, and she just turns and fires it at the defense.

Nice job by favorable to to rally back and keep the point alive.

My house is tipped has turned away.

Rockwell fires one long 1311 Rockwell trying to turn that ball down the line because she knows that deep area of the court is open.

Just a little a little out.

So you're enjoying tonight's be sure to stick around coming up in December 1st, 2 weekends in fact, the state football championships gonna be live right here on Arkansas PBS.

There's Rockwell gets another kill to her tally.

It's her 14th kill of the night.

40 attempts, that shows you how much they feed her and you know, Coach said.

That Rockwell is the setter security blanket and we're seeing that here tonight.

We've got all the action all year long with Arkansas PBS.

Volleyball, football, horse basketball coming up in March.

Baseball and softball in May is that one goes wide, Fayetteville starting to expand their lead to touch 1511 Lady Bulldogs.

This 10 points away from that three-peat smart timeout by coach Throneberry.

Southside takes the time out and we'll do the same as you're watching the Centennial Bank state Volleyball Championship presented by Everett Buick, GMC on Arkansas PBS sports.

Can you see her greatness when you attend her games, when you cheer her on, or when you participate in any way?

You support your community and make it better and you will see her greatness.

Join us as we pledge to increase the visibility of women's sports in our communities.

It makes a difference when we all are involved.

At Everett Buick GMC, we proudly support our local female athletes and encourage you to do the same.

See her greatness.

The spots, and that's where we are as Southside trying to battle back against Fayetteville, but they're down O2 and sets and they're down 1511 and set #3.

In this match, Fayetteville hasn't dropped the set to anybody from the state of Arkansas all year long.

When you're 36 and two, you haven't dropped any sets, period.

Hmm.

#5 in the country into one national poll.

Dave will keeps it alive.

Nice job there.

Defensively, extend the point block, does it?

Fayetteville's defense is just as strong as their offense start.

Excuse me, sorry, Madison.

It's the liberos, Ashley Ruff's third appearance in a state championship game, and ball control is has been huge for Fayetteville.

As they get that point, mall coming right at you make a play.

His last year, an athlete does it.

He could really start this fence, the Fayetteville benches getting into it.

The student section behind them is getting into it, making sense.

That championship's not too far away.

Rockwell.

Nice job by Southside defensively so they can respond.

And dugout.

Just no matter where they try to attack, the Fayetteville defense appears to be there.

That one.

I'm going to call a A2 hit.

They do.

So they're not a perfect set there by feeling.

I think the first time we've seen that all night on her, that's what I was gonna say.

It's OK if she has one because she has had such flawless setting, the entire match, 940 assists on the season.

31 tonight so yeah, we'll give her that one mistake.

Rockwell not gonna mistake that one.

That one drilled home, 1812.

Rockwell 16th kill of the night.

She's been so effective, we see here set outside.

Cranking it down the line.

Right in the scene, I'm just feeling serve.

And that one hits the antenna, trying to be a little too fine with it.

You can do that when you have a 6 point lead.

And that's down to 5.

So that's what I was gonna say.

When you have that buffer, when you have that little cushion, it's OK to go for those serves and have a few misses here and there.

South side doesn't have that luxury, but a nice serve there from Freeman and didn't matter Fayetteville on the attack as soon as they walk in the arena.

Lafata's 12th kill of the night.

She's second on the team as far as kills.

Only five errors.

That's really good.

The stats pretty much reflect the season stats, talking about tonight and all the year.

Rockwell leads the team in kills without a second, and that's how they line up on the stat sheet tonight.

Could even take it farther, harps and feeling three and four, and that's what they're doing on the statute again tonight.

So Faville is who they are.

And they're playing like they have all season.

And it works more times than not.

No point in changing it.

Well, Farrah.

She tries to find the hole in the South side defense.

Lady mask converged with the blocks just there for Fayetteville time and time again until it's really ticking Southside out of their aggressive mode.

Exactly.

And that's exactly what you want out of a block.

Yep.

Nice job there though, by Pitts.

Her 9th killed of the night.

The pitting just about 100, that's Fayetteville Block has a lot to do with that.

Yep, she's got that really sharp hit right there.

That was really good.

Nice job by Pitts there.

That's one of those freebies you talked about, Madison.

He's when they've got no block in front of you if you're gonna take advantage of those 1916 Fayetteville lead trimmed to three Southside, trying to stay alive.

There's too much.

A nice touch there from feeling behind her, and lafata drills it right into the teeth of the South side defense, but didn't matter too much mustard on it.

Five points away for the Lady Bulldogs.

Yet that middle blocker couldn't quite get over to her outside hitter in time to seal that block, and she got tooled.

Nice serve there.

Just ticks the net though from rough.

Feeling a quick set the heart?

Southside keeps it alive.

Don't give Fayetteville a free ball.

And then I said attack there, Libby Lindsey.

We haven't called her name a time, but the 5/8 senior took advantage right there.

It's her third kill of the eve.

2116.

Fayetteville hitting percentage has gone up a lot.

They're almost hitting 300 now.

On the set.

Fable as a team for the year hitting 329 and that one catches too much and that doesn't get over 329 as a team.

Good, great.

Exceptional.

How would you classify that exceptional, fantastic cause you take into account every single hitter on the team.

I mean that is absolutely incredible and I'm sure Fayetteville can can smell the win at this point.

329 hitting as a team.

This is the 11th finals appearance in the last 20 years for Fayetteville, and they certainly appear poised to claim title #7.

They want it in 2012, they had a 3 peat from 1516 and 17, and they're about to cap off a second three peat 2020-2021, and obviously this is almost the end of 2022.

South side though, and it's amazing you you think of the talent that's gone through.

Of course Steve Hauser built the program, they won titles in the late 90s and the and the Zeros and they won a bunch of them.

Eight state championships for Southside, 4 finals appearance in the last five years, whether it was Conway, whether it was Bentonville, Fayetteville was haven't seen to been able to get over the hump.

And that's such a shame because it's such a feat to get here.

They do need to celebrate that and they are playing really good here tonight.

They're just playing against an anomaly of a Fayetteville team.

Yeah, you're you're playing against a generational type team and I could say that now that this match is creeping towards conclusion but Southside not going away is Pitts puts that one down.

I mean there is serious conversation is this the best one ever?

You know of course you know it's always about you know that recency bias and you always going to say the one that is in front of you is the best ever but you know 37 and two likely going to finish as a top five national poll.

It's hard to argue.

Ohh yeah and a lot of their players are going D1.

I mean you come across the team like that once in a blue moon.

Five players and all from Fayetteville roster committed to play at Division One, a few more division two, NAIA.

Most of the South sides roster, well, they're coming back.

They got a lot of young talent, so don't be surprised if you see the lady mass back here in Hot Springs next year.

Miss Attack there in Fayetteville starting to feel it.

2317 Lindsay Libby heating up.

Great spot, right in the scene between two players.

That's her 4th kill of the night.

The father with the serve.

Nice attack there from Dupre.

That's one of those talented sophomores we were talking about.

You can see it her and pits.

I mean, the foundation is certainly there for Coach Throneberry in the future.

I mean, nobody was ever going to accuse South side of cupboard being bare.

They're good every year, but they're certainly going to be one of the best contentions.

We got another rogue ball.

Yeah, the potential is.

All over this team and the fact that a lot of them are sophomores, we're probably gonna see them the next year and the year after that.

They have so much room to grow and develop.

And the fact that they're 18301823, sorry, with a really good fayville team is very impressive.

Down from Fayetteville.

Well now the Lady Bulldogs just one point away from Kavanaugh their season where many of them are expected to and that's gonna be on top of the podium and receiving that championship trophy.

Wyler, it's the senior gonna serve it up.

Wow.

Defensively dug that one out.

Mia bedke's gonna do it as the Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs get it done.

2518 and set #3 and the coaches hug the players dogpile pun intended for the Lady Bulldogs Fayetteville.

Back-to-back to Back 6A state champions.

It's only fitting that Rockwell delivers the final blow, her 18th kill of the night.

Fantastic game.

Honestly, by everyone on the court, such high level volleyball and really just shows you the future of Arkansas high school volleyball is very bright.

You hear about a ranking coming into a match and you never know what you're going to see.

And sometimes, maybe oftentimes, you're disappointed.

Not disappointed what you saw in favor tonight.

Ohh.

My goodness no, not at all.

I think my mouth gaped open far too many times.

So athletic, so powerful.

And even though there's not a ton of height, it doesn't matter because they make up for it with their jumps.

So explosive.

South side, nothing to be ashamed about.

They just ran into a team that's you can call him a juggernaut.

So we're going to step aside.

Trophy presentation coming up because you've been watching this Centennial.

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Welcome back in the bank OTCPK Arena.

Southside just received their state runner up trophy in Fayetteville.

Well, they're about to receive what they came for.

That is the 6A State Championship Trophy executive director Nicola, Excuse me, assistant executive director Nick Lasker about to hand out the hardware.

And the business trip is done for the Lady Bulldogs.

And they went on their business trip and they took care of business.

Reagan Harp, 10 kills.

Brooke Rockwell 17 kills.

Madeline Lafata, 13 kills.

A feeling in just a moment along with the MVP, which is going to be announced momentarily.

And I mean, you can look at the numbers, you can look at the hitting percentages.

I mean, offensively they're very good.

Defensively, they played great at times at the net.

Ohh yeah.

I mean all around.

And that's what you get from a championship team.

You have just as strong of a back row as you do a front row.

You've just as strong as setter that has great connections with all of her hitters.

They used so many different weapons.

Tonight Kennedy feeling named that the games from the state tournaments Most Valuable Player.

And we had a chance to talk with coach, feeling we're gonna get her side of it.

Her daughter.

We haven't mentioned that that is her daughter.

They displayed their last match together.

Wrote her a letter, wrote a letter to her coach, to her mom and gave it to her on senior night.

And Coach feeling said that she hasn't had the guts to open it yet.

Said she might open it on the bus ride home tonight.

So of course we're going to ask her about that as they're going to make their way over to the table in just a moment.

So kind of final thoughts on this match.

Madison, Fayetteville.

So good South side, so young and talented and this.

This is elite high school volleyball.

People are gonna you know read the newspaper tomorrow.

Go online and see it was a sweep a lot closer than necessarily three.

O is going to indicate ohh 100%.

I think South side needs to leave with their heads held high.

They have so much potential.

They played so good.

They had a ton of grit, which is what the coach said she wanted them to have and they need to all leave with their heads held high.

Fantastic season, fantastic record on the season and fantastic showing in the state tournament.

Let's take a look at some overall stats and this.

Championship match as Fayetteville completes the sweep.

3037 and two is the final record for the Lady Bulldogs while South side is gonna end the year it's 31 and seven and you could see the digs and the kill advantage for Fayetteville and that's certainly looks like numbers of a team that completed the 30 suite.

Ohh yeah 100%.

Those numbers are fantastic.

80 digs by Fayetteville, 51 kills.

Those are some high numbers and that just shows you the high level of volleyball.

An Arkansas high school has and will continue to have in the future.

Yeah, the attacks pretty equal there and this shows you one how good the block was.

So just three more attacks were Fayetteville, but 21 more kills.

A lot of that has to do with the block and I think Southside got out of there.

Their attack mode.

It almost like they were a little gun shy at the net because they were turned away or somebody balls deflected right at the net.

Exactly.

And that's what you see sometimes with underdogs.

They can either bow up and say, OK, I'm gonna try and tool you.

I know you're bigger than me.

I'm gonna try and hit off your hands or you can go and creep into that.

That tip type of way.

But, and that's what South side kind of did here.

Yeah, alright, we're gonna be joined by the Most Valuable Player in the state tournament, Kennedy feeling as she puts the headset on here at the scorers table, and Kennedy won.

Congratulations with two.

What does it mean to cap off your career with a third state championship?

It's pretty surreal.

I mean, we've been playing together since we were 12 and to have this experience with your best friends, this is, I mean, to finish that way is incredible, you know, watching you guys.

Play.

It's obvious that you guys have been playing together since you were little kids.

It's it's just a fluid motion.

It looks like the ball just doesn't even touch your fingers.

It's just like a well oiled machine and it's tough to stop.

Yeah, it's it's pretty incredible.

It's a really fun group to play with.

How did it feel when you got that?

Final point is just.

Crazy.

I mean, we've been dreaming of it forever and it just finally went down and it was just a great feeling to do this.

Obviously, 3 state championships at the largest classification in the states.

Impressive to have the 37 and two records.

Impressive.

Top five nationally.

It's impressive.

What's it, what's it mean to do when your mom's the head coach and and they go out this way with with her on the sideline with you.

I mean, it's everything we could have hoped for is.

I mean, incredible.

It's an incredibly talented group to play with and it's just it's been.

Congratulations.

Enjoy this one with your team.

Thank you.

I will.

Alright, we're gonna bring in coach feeling in just a second.

Madison, this one just, I mean, you can't this describe this one anymore as coach feeling's gonna join us here at the table and coach we're gonna put you on the spots.

You know, three straight state championships to win this one.

Yeah, gotta be a little more special with your daughter as a senior in her final match to go out a winner.

You know, these girls have played a lot of volleyball together over the years.

And, you know, connection goes beyond volleyball.

We have 14 seniors and this is exactly where they wanted to end this magical season.

I mean, they haven't dropped a set to anyone in Arkansas this year and we certainly were tested there.

You know, tonight, so I think.

You know, for me as a coach, I'm just super proud of their, like, collective energy and effort.

And for them, it's always been about like we over me and the group.

And so it's been, it's been a joy for sure.

So we were talking about it earlier.

Do you think that you're going to read the letter that your daughter wrote you on the bus ride home?

Ohhh, yeah, I think.

I think it's probably time.

I've been putting it off for a week or so.

Yeah.

So it's been special time.

You know, as a coach, when your kids are young, sometimes you have to miss a lot of stuff.

And so I think, you know, over the last few years we've got to gain some of that time.

So it's been it's been a sweet ride with her and her buddies.

Yeah.

So I'm gonna put you on the spot with this one.

Not about, not about the family.

I mean, you guys were expected.

You guys had the the target on your back.

All you're on.

You were expected to win.

You played a loaded schedule.

We talked about the national tournament.

You played to come in and run the table in Arkansas.

You mentioned not lose a set to the incontact complication.

Southside.

Very good.

It was obvious.

But to come out and to complete the task today, that's got to be really gratifying.

For sure.

It's like, it's gratifying, it's exciting.

It's part relief and it's just like, I wanted this for them so bad because they've worked so hard over the years and you know, when no one's watching, when it's not the moments like this, they really have put in the time.

And so, you know, I'm just super excited.

Coach, I appreciate your time.

Congratulations on another state championship.

Thank you.

Alright, that's Jessica feeling state championship #7 for Fayetteville, all since 2012 and the 2nd 3 peat.

Fayetteville wins that.

You see the score.

There are three, oh, they don't give up a set to anybody in the state of Arkansas all season long.

So Madison Fitzpatrick's been here all day, called all five state championship matches, and Madison, I mean your take away from this one all day long, obviously, 35 sweeps.

The last match, the five a game, could have gone thousand different directions.

This game really felt like it could have gone a lot of different directions.

What would your take away from State championship Saturday take away?

All around?

The level of volleyball is growing.

Astronomically, the longer that it's been around in Arkansas, the level of volleyball and Arkansas is just growing.

The athleticism of all these girls, the heart that they put into it, it really was such a fun atmosphere and it it really was such a fun thing to be a part of, to see the sport grow and then to see all the hard work pay off.

That's big words coming from a former college star herself.

So that's Madison Fitzpatrick.

I'm Bobby swofford.

Big thank you to everybody back in the truck from Arkansas.

PBS.

Also a big thanks to Centennial and Everett Buick, GMC, for making today possible.

And we are just getting started.

With Arkansas PBS Sports for this athletic year football championships not that far away.

Playoffs actually start in less than two weeks and we'll be at War Memorial Stadium the first two weekends in December bringing all the championship action from eight man all the way up to Class 7A.

And we're going to bring it to you right here live on Arkansas PBS.

Appreciate you spending your Saturday with us and one final goodbye from Bank OZK Arena as you've been watching this Centennial bank state Volleyball championship presented by Everett.

On Arkansas, PBS sports.