Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.

NAME: Jordan Armstrong

DATE OF BIRTH: Nov. 18, 1991

PARENTS: Audrey and Charlie Armstrong

SIBLINGS: I have a little brother who's 14. His name is Drew.

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Volleyball

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I don't have spare time

FAVORITE FOOD: Salad

FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: I'll listen to anything

By Rob Patrick

LITTLE ROCK — Not that it isn’t fun most of the time, but there was a point during their match against the Little Rock Central Lady Tigers that the Bryant Lady Hornets volleyball team appeared to be having a great time.

Of course, it helped that they were reeling off one point after another during a 12-1 run in the second game of a three-game sweep of their 7A-Central Conference rivals at the Central gym.

The Lady Hornets improved to 4-4 in league play as they began the second half of the conference round-robin, strengthening their place in the standings and their chance at reaching the Class 7A State Tournament.

According to head coach Beth Solomon, Bryant was in sixth place going into the match and may have moved up to fifth with the win. Six teams from the league advance to State.

The varsity won 25-20, 25-10, 25-23 after the junior varsity rolled to 25-17, 25-20 wins.

Editor’s note: This is a regular feature profiling senior athletes at Bryant High School.

NAME: Tyson Abernathy

DATE OF BIRTH: March 17, 1992

PARENTS' NAMES: Richard and Paula Abernathy

SIBLINGS: I've got one sister, London Abernathy. She's 15.

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: History

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I like to ride four-wheelers, go hunting.

FAVORITE FOOD: Let's go with steak.

FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST OR GROUP: Justin Moore

The Bryant Lady Hornets freshman volleyball team surged into sole possession of first place in the South Division of the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference with a 2-1 victory over the rival Benton Junior Lady Panthers on Monday, Sept. 28.

The win came on the heels of a 2-0 sweep of Sheridan in league play on Thursday.

The Lady Hornets have won four league games in a row and improved to 8-2 versus division foes, 11-3 overall. The win over Benton avenged one of their conference losses. The two teams came into Monday’s game tied for the Division lead.

McKenzie Rice finished the match with six kills she also got the Lady Hornets in position to win the first game by serving points 9 through 12. Courtney Davidson served points 15-17. She also contributed three blocks and four assists on the night.

After the loss in game two, the third game was a tussle when the Lady Hornets got a lift off the bench from Sarah McPherson who served for points 10 through 13 to give Bryant the upper hand. Then Alyssa Anderson helped put the game and match away by serving for points 18 through 24.

During the annual "Month of September" United Way campaign season, special events and activities are often seen as the trademark approach to generating the most donations. That may be true in many cases – but not all.

“I did not have an event, I just talked to people around the office and set a goal of $55 as the minimum donation per person,” said Jeremiah Oltmans, a realtor with Crye-Leike Bryant. “I did my own research about United Way and took the initiative on my own to ask for support and at the end of the day it resulted in $672 raised.”

While somewhat unconventional, Oltmans’ approach apparently connected with his fellow realtors.

LITTLE ROCK — A contest has begun which will bring attention to an area high school football team and $2,500 to support the school’s athletic department.

Sponsored by Summit Bank, the contest is asking high school football teams, “What makes YOUR team special?”

After a 3-0 start, the Bryant Hornets were ranked for the first time during the 1999 season. And the Sheridan Yellowjackets nearly spoiled the party. But the Hornets survived as their unbeaten season continued to unfold. — Rob

Hornets rally to 20-19 win over Jackets

By ROB PATRICK

BRYANT TIMES

The best thing about the Bryant Hornets’ 20-19 win over the Sheridan Yellowjackets didn’t have anything to do with revenge. Sure, the Hornets wanted to get Sheridan back for a devastating 7-3 loss last year but those feelings melted away as the game — the war, as Bryant head coach Daryl Patton called it — unfolded.

And this is not to underplay the importance of winning your AAAAA-South Conference opener or defeating a long-time rival (the win evened the series at 14 wins each since 1971) or providing the impetus for a Top 10 ranking by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and (for the second week in row) the Associated Press.

Nor should it trivialize the fact that this is just the third Bryant team in the last 30 years to start a season 4-0.

Photos by RICK NATION

The Hometown Scholarship Program, presented by local Dodge dealers including Landers Dodge along with the Bryant High School Band have launched the 2009 charity fundraising campaign that generates scholarship funds for high school students. The Hometown Scholarship Program is part of Landers Dodge's continuing commitment to the hometown community.

The Bryant High School Band members are attending community events to request $5 donations in support of their Dodge Hometown Scholarship Program. With each $5 suggested donation, 100 percent of the proceeds go to scholarship and organization enrichment programs.