The Lady Bulldogs volleyball team is right where they were expected to be as one of the top programs in the state, let alone in Class 6A. With a 13-4 season mark, the GHS girls are unbeaten (4-0) in conference play and rank eighth overall in the state and first in 6A, according to Max Preps.
“My team is progressing very well at this point,” said Head Coach Jennifer Golden, now in her 17th season at Greenwood. “For the most part, we have settled into our schedule and we are two matches from finishing our first round of conference [play].
“We are continuing to work hard in practice and work on our weaknesses,” she continued. “Right now, we are going day by day, just trying to make sure we don't get ahead of ourselves, and making the most of each game and practice.”
The GHS girls continue their season on Thursday at home against league foe Siloam Springs at 5 p.m. They will host Bentonville-West on Saturday at the GHS volleyball gym with the first set slated to begin at 10 a.m. The Lady Eagles of Paris will visit Greenwood next Monday in non-conference play at 5 p.m.
Van Buren
This past Monday the Lady ‘Dogs played at Van Buren, winning in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, and 25-21. Senior Carrie Ciesla and sophomore Camryn Presley led the team with nine kills each, while sophomore Zoie Benton added seven.
Presley also led the team with five total blocks, while Ciesla had three. Senior Lexie Castillow had 26 digs, the only Lady Bulldog in double figures. Senior Brooke Shortes led Greenwood with 17 assists, while Ciesla had 12.
Harrison
On September 7th Greenwood hosted the Lady Goblins of Harrison, again winning in straight sets, 25-17, 25-16, and 25-20. It was the fourth conference victory for Greenwood this season.
The leading attackers for the home team were senior Lilliah Pugh with 10 kills, and three others with eight each, including Ciesla, junior Abby Cagle, and sophomore Zoie Benton. Presley had six kills.
Castillow had 18 digs to lead the team, while Benton had six and senior Meredith James had five. Shortes had 15 assists, as did Ciesla.
Farmington
Two days earlier Greenwood traveled to Class 5A conference foe Farmington and defeated the Lady Cardinals in consecutive sets, 25-13, 25-13, and 25-19.
Lilliah Pugh had 14 kills for the Lady Bulldogs and Lexie Castillow had 13 digs, both team highs. Brooke Shortes had 22 assists.
Clarksville
On the final day of August the GHS girls hosted Class 5A Clarksville, dominating the Lady Panthers in three sets, 25-12, 25-8, and 25-9, also a conference victory.
Lilliah Pugh led the offense with 10 kills, while Zoie Benton had eight. Ciesla and fellow senior Sarah Snodgrass added four kills each.
Brooke Shortes and Lexie Castillow each had five service aces and fellow senior Jillian Bateman had three. Castillow also led the team with 12 digs from the back row. Shortes (18) and Ciesla (11) led the team in assists.
Alma
On August 29th Greenwood played at rival Alma, a conference match, and won in straight sets, giving up just 26 total points (25-10, 25-6, 25-10).
Zoie Benton had six kills to lead the squad, while Presley and Cagle both had five kills each. Pugh had five service aces while Ciesla had four and Shortes and Castillow had three each.
Presley also added five blocks, while Castillow and Shortes had six digs each. Shortes also led the team in assists with 14, while Ciesla had 10.
Shiloh Christian
A day earlier the Lady ‘Dogs hosted Shiloh Christian from Springdale. Greenwood handled the Lady Saints in straight sets, winning 25-15, 25-6, and 25-11 in non-conference play.
Pugh had 11 kills for Greenwood, followed by Zoie Benton with eight and Carrie Ciesla with six. Camryn Presley, Abby Cagle, and Sarah Snodgrass all had four kills each.
Brooke Shortes had three service aces and Lexie Castillow had 11 digs, while sophomore Josie Chapple had eight digs, Ciesla had seven, and Meredith James had six digs. Shortes had 17 assists, while Ciesla had 16.
Early Bird Tournament
On August 26th the GHS girls traveled to Bentonville-West High School for tournament play against five different schools, winning two of the five matches.
Greenwood lost its first two matches by identical 2-0 scores to Kickapoo (Springfield, MO) and Class 7A Springdale Har-Ber. They topped 7A Bentonville-West (2-0), lost 2-0 to 7A Conway, and defeated Siloam Springs (2-0).
In their opening match against Kickapoo, Zoie Benton had eight kills, Lexie Castillow had 10 digs, Brooke Shortes had 10 assists and Carrie Ciesla nine.
Against Har-Ber, the Lady Bulldogs were led in kills by Benton (10), while Abby Cagle had seven kills. Castillow had seven digs and teammates Benton and Ciesla had five each. Ciesla and Shortes led the team in assists with 11 and nine, respectively.
In the 25-12 and 25-15 victory over Bentonville-West, the Lady Bulldogs got six kills each from Benton and Cagle, five service aces and six digs from Castillow, nine assists from Ciesla, and eight from Shortes.
In the loss to Conway, Zoie Benton led Greenwood with seven kills, Carrie Ciesla had five, and Camry Presley added four. Lexie Castillow had 12 digs and Brooke Shortes added 10 assists.
In the Lady Bulldogs’ 25-12, 25-16 win over Siloam Springs, Lillian Pugh had seven kills and Abby Cagle six, while Camry Presley and Zoie Benton had five each. Castillow had 11 digs, Carrie Ciesla eight, and Brooke Shortes led the team with 15 assists.
Fort Smith Northside
On August 24th Greenwood hosted the Lady Grizzlies and won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-17, and 25-23. Offensively, the Lady Bulldogs were led by Abby Cagle with 10 kills and Lilliah Pugh with nine.
Carrie Ciesla had three aces from the serving line and 13 assists, just two behind team leader Brooke Shortes with 15. Lexie Castillow had 28 digs.