In each of the first two sets against the Alumni in the 3rd annual Robert Dean Memorial Tuesday night, the Bearcat volleyball team found itself in a tight game midway through the set.
In both cases the current edition of Bearcat volleyball went on a run then coasted to set wins.
Although a third set was not necessary both sides agreed to play to 15 and those who will open the season on August 25 against Mena, raced to a huge lead at the outset and won comfortably to complete the sweep.
The Alumni drew a roster of 17 former players, mostly from the era of the late Robert Dean, dating back to 2009, with an 18th in attendance but unable to suit up due to having a baby in her lap.
The roster also included a couple who played for head coach Bailey Stringer the last two seasons.
The Alumni actually led the first set 7-2 but after a long return, a Vanessa O’Neal kill an attack error and an Alanna Helms aces got it to 7-6.
Vanessa O’Neal followed a service break that made it 8-7 with back to back aces to give the Bearcats their first lead.
The teams then found themselves tied at 9, at 10 on a point by Brittany (Ward) May, at 11 on a Karmen Kent kill and at 12 on a Brooklyn Elmore kill.
A service error gave the Bearcats the lead and Cam Parish would service through 18-12, mixing in an ace with a Helms kill and a couple of alumni miscues.
Even after a service break a Vanessa O’Neal kill started a set ending series of seven straight points that included a Kaylee Ray kill.
Taylor Villarreal started the second set with an ace and Peighton Montalvo added a kill but the Alumni evened it with a break and a Jaycie Rodatz ace.
The Alumni led 6-5 with a service break but a long serve gave the Bearcats the ball back and Makinley Ensey delivered an ace, and Jamie Reed followed a kill.
Stevie Harrower broke the serve and a pair of errors gave the Alumni the lad back at 9-8.
A Christina O’Neal point retied it and three straight aces by Reed made it 12-9, before the Alumni again pulled even.
That was until an Emma Fox kill started a four point run that included an ace by Christina O’Neal and a kill by Addison Elmore.
The Alumni was within 16-13 and 17-14 until Addison Elmore scored then took over on the service line and dealt a couple of aces on the way to a 22-14 lead, which became a 25-15 win after a Maddie Walker kill.
A Presley Walker ace and kills by Vanessa O’Neal and Parish staked the Bearcats to a 4-0 lead in the third set and after a Hallie Davis kill, Vanessa O’Neal returned the favor with a service break at 5-1.
Four Parish aces were included in a run that made it 11-1 before a Kent kill and Aleeah Blansett aces helped get it to 11-4.
Kills by Kent and Blansett closed the game to 13-7 before Brooklyn Phillips had a stroke of lunch at the net and kills by Brooklyn Elmore for the Alumni and Presley Walker for the Bearcats wrapped up the third set at 15-8.
BEARCATS TOP ALUMNI IN 3RD ROBERT DEAN MEMORIAL
