BEARCATS GET NONCONFERENCE WIN OVER ATKINS

They are in different conference but a rivalry may be developing between Booneville and Atkins, at least in girls sports.

In May of 2022 Atkins eliminated the Lady Bearcats in the Class 3A state softball tournament. In May of 2023 the Bearcats got even by winning the state title with Atkins in the opposing dugout.

In October of 2022 Atkins eliminated the Bearcats in the Class 3A state volleyball tournament. Last night the Lady Bearcats recorded a straight set win over the Lady Red Devils, to the delight of junior Ellie Smith.

Asked in a media guide questionnaire which game she most looked forward to, Smith answered all of them, but especially Atkins because they had beaten the Lady Bearcats in that state tournament.

“Atkins knocked us out of the state tournament last year so I was wanting my revenge this year,” Smith said after the match. “They knocked us out in three sets last year so I’m glad we took them out in three this year.”

After the teams alternated points in the early going of the first set Atkins built a 5-2 lead but the Bearcats clawed back to take a 11-7 lead on a consecutive cross court kills by Kaylee Ray.

Farrah Stringer stayed on the service line though a 13-7 lead after the break and the Bearcats were in control the rest of the set.

A kill by Presley Walker (shown) brought up game point and Lilly Downs delivered an ace for a 25-14 set win.

Atkins led early in set two as well until a kill by Cam Parish made it 4-3. It was 7-3 after a couple of attack errors and an ace by Lyddia Franklin, inducing a time out.

Kylie Lunsford had a kill out of the break.

A vicious kill from Smith ended a small Atkins run and made it 11-7 and sent Lunsford to the service line. Lunsford started with an ace and stayed there through a lead of 16-7.

Atkins battled back to get it to 23-20 and the Bearcats took a time out. Walker had a block for a point after the stoppage and a Downs dig led to a Ray kill to wrap up the set, 25-20.

The Bearcats took control early in the third set, going up 5-1 on a kill by Smith and it was 7-2 after an ace by Lunsford. An ace by Smith made it 10-3 and Atkins took a time out.

Atkins closed to within 14-11 before Ray went cross court again for a kill.

Atkins managed to get within 17-12 before Downs scored from the back row to start a 4-0 run capped by an ace by Anna Ferguson.

Ferguson, Vanessa O’Neal, Christina O’Neal, and Emily Wooldridge all saw varsity action after leading the JV to a win.

Out of a time out Atkins got it to 21-16 and it was 24-20 after a Red Devil ace but a return into the net ended it.

The JV team also recorded a straight set win, 27-25 and 25-10.

Mia Perez delivered an ace to make it 23-22 but Atkins would score the next three points before a Vanessa O’Neal volley could not be set to tie it at 24-24.

Atkins again went ahead but a dig by Ferguson led to a service break and tie at 25 and digs by
Ferguson and Wooldridge led to a Christina O’Neal kill and an ace by Ferguson won it.

The Bearcats dominated the second set, taking completely over during a service session by
Wooldridge that led to a 17-6 lead on a kill by Vanessa O’Neal and backline winner form Wooldridge and a violation prior to an Iris Martin return.

Though Atkins would finally break serve the Bearcats went on to win the set 25-10 with the final points coming on a volley from Peighton Montalvo and a return into the net.

The Bearcats return to conference action today with a trip to Charleston, who they swept in a match at Bearcat Gym earlier this year. After that is senior night against Elkins here on Thursday.

In their last conference outing the Bearcats swept Green Forest with Smith registering 14 kills, and Franklin adding six to go with four aces and seven digs. Downs had 12 digs.