8/30/22
Alma volleyball coach Kim Weaver is ready for her players to take the next step. Her players are ready, too.
Alma finished 2-1-1 at the Alma Volleyball Tournament Saturday — beating Clarksville and West Fork in pool play and dropped a 3-0 decision to Mansfield in the first round of bracket play. The defending 2A state champs trailed Alma in all three matches before stringing together big scoring runs.
Hackett won the overall title Saturday for the second straight season.
“We have a lot of skill work to take care of,” Weaver said. “We are so close to the tipping point. We’ve improved our skills, but we’re still stuck in the same mentality.
“That has to change as well.”
Alma (3-2-1) will host Gravett Tuesday. They’re home Thursday for Vilonia as well.
The Lady Airedales were without star defender Laila Boyd again Saturday. She injured her knee prior to last week’s game with Pottsville.
Sophomores Mabrey Birchfield and Ava Sharp will be called upon to step up.
“I guess if it had to happen, now is better,” Weaver said. “It’s going to be a Baptism by fire. Mabrey and Ava are very capable; I just think the moment is big. The thing is, they’ve played a high level of volleyball — a very fast-paced game.
“They’ll just have to settle in.”
Alma opens 5A-West play a week from Tuesday against Harrison. The team’s first conference road trip is slated for Sept. 8 against Siloam Springs.