RUSSELLVILLE — After winning seven matches in a row, the Bryant Blue Lady Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School absorbed a 25-21, 25-27, 11-15 setback in an intense battle against the Russellville Lady Whirlwinds eighth grade team Monday night.
It was just the third loss of the season for the Lady Hornets who have won 13 and tied one going into their final match of the 2016 campaign at Conway White on Monday, Oct. 17.
“Russellville is a really good team,” said Bethel coach Melissa Bragg. “I am really proud of how hard and focused the girls played the entire match. They were never rattled.
“We had a lot of smart plays,” she noted. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t finish. This group of girls is very talented.”
The Lady Hornets dug up a lot of what the Lady Whirlwinds were hitting at them. Ashton Inman had 14 digs, Jillian Colclasure 11 with Maddie Thomas and Alyssa Hernandez each getting 10. Olivia German added seven digs, Abbey Inman six, Shaylee Carver five. Addison Funk, Skylar Risk, Madelyn Martin and Anna Barnes had four each.
Abbey Inman was good on all 10 of her serves with two aces. Carver got in all nine of her serves and had a team-high five aces. Ashton Inman went 8 for 8 at the line. German served up an ace.
At the net, Ashton Inman had two kills and two blocks. Erin Key added two kills and a block while Funk had two kills and a block. Lexi Feagin contributed a kill and Ella Reynolds pitched in with a block.
Abbey Inman led with six assists. Carver had one.
