JONESBORO — Siloam Springs coach Rose Cheek acknowledged her team, particularly the seniors, were carrying a bit of a burden trying to win its sixth consecutive volleyball state championship this season.

But the close-knit group shook o◊an early deficit in the second set to grab that sixth straight title with a 25-22, 27-25, 25-20 win over 5A-West Conference rival Greenwood on Saturday night in the Arkansas State University Convocation Center.

Cheek said she and assistant coach Joellen Wright felt the emotions and excitement all season.

“I know Coach Wright and I were just overwhelmed,” Cheek said. “They’ve been carrying a lot of pressure. It’s tough to keep theircomposure and fight like they did. I think it says a lot about them and a lot about the character and grit they have.”

The Lady Panthers (36-3) showed that grit in the second set when they trailed 9-2.

Senior setter/hitter Hannah Allison, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said the players’ adrenaline was at a low ebb early in that second set.

“It was really high at the end of the first game,” Allison said. “And it kinda just dropped. We had to refocus and just get back on the right track and get our rhythm back because we were starting to play their type of ball instead of ours. Once we got back in that rhythm, we had confi dence we could come back.”

And come back they did, but it took a while.

Greenwood (26-9) held the leadthroughout much of the second set until Siloam Springs pushed in front with a 9-1 run buoyed by strong net play. Allison was right in the middle of the run with two kills and two block assists.

But Greenwood wouldn’t fold, knotting the score at 22, 23, 24, and 25. Siloam finished the set, though, on Alli Wade’s blast o◊the block and Staci Williamson’s solo block.

Cheek said she was defi nitely a little worried in that second set but was proud of her team’s fi ght.

“They were down what 9-1, 9-2,” Cheek said. “I was like about to have a stroke over there. But the girls just fought.”

Allison, who said Saturday she would sign with Texas next week during the early signing period, again did a little bit of everything for Siloam in the final. She led theway with a match-high 13 kills to go with 16 assists, three solo blocks and five block assists.

Junior Lizzy Briones, who is also drawing Division I college interest, chipped in with nine kills, three solos and four block assists. Wade was also key on the right side with eight kills and three block assists.

Greenwood was led by senior middle hitter Keeley Treece with 10 kills, while junior outside Hayley Allen added eight.

But Siloam’s defense made it tough for the Lady Bulldogs to put the ball to the fl oor.

Williamson led the charge with 22 digs, while Lauren Gay added 15, Kelsey Fraizer 14 and Briones 11.

Sports, Pages 12 on 11/02/2009

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