By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Lonoke Lady Rabbits volleyball team played host to the Jacksonville Lighthouse Lady Wolves Thursday in the Gina Cox Center. The Lady Rabbits (13-2) handled Jacksonville Lighthouse (1-4) easily, winning 3-0 with scores of 25-3, 25-15, and 25-9.
Lonoke was able to try some different things and get game experience for several players.
“Having the girls to stay focused and actually moving the girls around and giving them an opportunity in a different position where you want to try them, but it’s different from practice,” said Lonoke coach Laura Park. “The girls have done great thisyear. It seems like everyone we’ve played, from teams that aren’t quite as good or new programs, all the way up to playing North Little Rock, the girls have played well together as a team. They get along well together. They support each other, whether they are getting playing time that set or not. Overall, today and throughout the whole season, I’ve been very pleased with them. They’re very competitive, and they’ve got a real good fighting spirit. It’s a great group of kids.”
The Lady Wolves had the first serve of set one, but served the ball out. Lonoke made it 2-0 on a tip to the floor by Maddie Pool on a Lighthouse overpass..
Kennedy White followed with a kill on another overpass to start a 16-point serving streak by Pool, which included four ace serves. White had another kill in the middle of the net, and a tip by Keiunna Walker found the floor. A kill attempt by Adaiya Matthews of the Lady Wolves almost stopped the rally, but fell just long.
Madison McFadden, the Lady Rabbit libero, came in to serve and scored once for a 20-1 Lonoke lead. Lighthouse picked up two more points before White ended the set with another kill.
Set two started with a 7-0 run by the Lady Rabbits, but a net violation gave the ball to the Lady Wolves. Lighthouse was able to pull the score to 6-9, including a service ace by Matthews. Pool stretched the Lonoke lead out to 18-7 on her service, but the Lady Wolves were able to pick up points along the way to make the second set closer at 25-15.
Jacksonville Lighthouse had first service in the third and final set and took a 1-0, then 2-1 lead before Pool once again went on a serving spree to give the Lady Rabbits a 15-2 lead.
Kayla Shelton had a kill in the rally, and another at 17-3. Sarina Jones picked up four points on her serve, with a kill by Mary Katherine Sumner making it 21-3.Jasmine Scott picked up two points on her serve for the Lady Wolves, but the home team again prevailed 25-9.
