BEARCAT VOLLEYBALL MOVING TO 3A-1 FOR NEXT CYCLE

Volleyball will look a lot different for the Bearcats next season.

While the roster featured 10 seniors that was a given, but adding to that, the Arkansas Activities Association has reassigned the Bearcats to a new conference.

In announcing the conference assignments yesterday, the AAA noted there are 15 new schools across the state committed to the sport.

So, gone are Conference 3A-5 to Perryville, Conway, and Mayflower as the Bearcats are back in the 3A-1 along with Charleston, Lavaca, Lincoln, Paris, Providence Academy and West Fork.

Head coach Bailey Stringer welcomes the change.

I’m excited for this new conference. We still have some familiar teams, but others we haven’t seen in a while,” said Stringer. “I think there’s some good competition but most teams just graduated a big senior group so I’m excited to see what everyone has to bring next season.”

Conference 3A-1 is paired with the 3A-5 for regional competition (3A North). That league will also change considerably as it now includes Atkins, Clinton, Dover, Lamar, Perryville, and Quitman.

There are now 43 schools in Class 3A.