BEARCATS FALL IN 5 SETS IN HOME OPENER

The Bearcat volleyball team dropped a hard fought five set marathon to Clarksville in their home opener Tuesday night.

The Bearcats held a five-point lead at one point in the opening set before Clarksville took the lead and maintained it until, with Farrah Stinger serving the Lady Bearcat closed to within 23-22 instigating a time out.

A net violation tied it, a Sara Ulmer (shown) ace gave the Bearcats the lead back and Ulmer’s bid for a second ace was returned out of bounds for a 25-23 win.

Clarksville tied the match with a 25-21 second set. The Panthers had led 19-10 before a furious comeback got the Bearcats within three.

Clarksville led early again in the third set before the Bearcats took a 20-19 lead. After a time out the Bearcats got a kill from Emma Mikles to get to 24 and Ellie Smith returned the clincher for a 2-1 set lead.

Despite trailing by five early, the Bearcats had an opportunity to end the match in four sets – a set in which there was a bizarre off the basketball rim returned for a point – were it not for a couple of forgiving net rolls for the Panthers and Clarksville evened the match with a 25-23 set win.

In the decisive set both teams held two point leads and the score was tied at 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11, before the Panthers ran off the final four points of the night to take the match.

Clarksville also won the junior high match 25-19, 25-15.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Thursday against Waldron. Seventh grade and junior high A teams will start the evening. Play starts at 4 p.m.