SLOW START DOOMS BEARCATS

Missing a two time all state and getting off to an extremely slow start spelled disaster for the Bearcat volleyball team in their home match with Mayflower Tuesday night.

The result was a straight set loss.

It was 12-3 Mayflower when head coach Bailey Stringer took a time out and 20-10 when she took another. Between the stoppages there were some bright spots, including a Farrah Stringer ace while, subbing for Lilly Downs at libero, and kills from both Lyddia Franklin and Presley Walker (shown).

Mayflower would win the first set 25-12 and the second 25-10, though a Kaylee Ray ace would give the Bearcats their first lead of the night early on in the set.

Walker and Smith had blocks in the second set.

The third set would be the most competitive for the Bearcats. Franklin started it with a bock and a Smith kill gave the Bearcats an early 2-1 lead.

The set was tied at 7 before Mayflower took control only to have a Vanessa O’Neal kill and an attack error give the Bearcats a chance, down 21-17, but Mayflower won every remaining point except one.

Up next for the Bearcats will be a visit from Paris on Thursday night. As was the case Tuesday, the seventh grade, junior high, and JV teams, will also be in action.

Thursday the JV team took two sets from Mayflower while the junior high fell in straight sets.