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Senior Haley Warner was nearly unstoppable at the net to the tune of 34 kills to help the Lady Purple Bulldogs continue their quest for a third straight state title. The 6-2 Florida commit finished with a match-high 34 kills to lift Fayetteville to a 25-13, 19-25, 25-17, 25-20 win. Fayetteville (26-11) was the No. 3 seed out of the 7A-West Conference, but avenged two regular-season losses to the 7A-West champion Lady Tigers, who had a 10-match winning streak snapped and finished 30-5. The two-time defending champions turned up the intensity at the end of the last two sets to close out the match. The Lady Purple'Dogs finished the third set with an 8-0 run to break from a 17-17 tie. They trailed 18-17 in the fourth, but finished out the match with a 8-2 run. Fayetteville coach Jessica Phelan credited Warner and setter Ella May Powell with huge performances. They each have one state tournament most valuable player honor to their credit. The 6-foot Powell, a Washington commit, added 13 kills and 35 assists. Warner chipped in 10 digs and four blocks, while libero Carley Galloway had a team-high 13 digs. Sophomore middle Arianna Walter contributed a match-high five blocks. "I think we obviously had a big day from two kids that have been there," Phelan said. "I thought they really stepped up when we need for them to and scored points for us. The rest of the kids just found a way to get them the ball. Haley was special tonight. "I think that we talk about our past doesn't determine our future today and we need to get our minds right and have confidence that we could go out and perform well. I thought we did that even when we dropped that second set. They were able to come back and not focus on that, but just the next point." Bentonville coach Michelle Smith said her team didn't play bad, Fayetteville was just a little better. "It's hard to beat a team three times," Smith said. "You can sit there and say it was this play or that play or a certain environment. It just came down to two great teams and we did everything we've been doing all year. Fayetteville out-played us. "Haley has always played consistent against us. She definitely stepped it up today and made it hard at times. It just came down to a few points tonight and that's what happens in the state tournament." Emma Palasak and Tymber Riley both registered double-doubles. Palasak had a team-high 15 kills and 11 digs, while Riley added 12 kills and 11 digs. Setter Baylee Barganier added 42 assists, while Tori Lowry chipped in 11 digs.

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FAYETTEVILLE 3, BENTONVILLE 1

PAUL BOYD

Arkansas Online | 10/27/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville Athletics