Several Twin Lakes area volleyball teams are off to notable starts this season, with Cotter and Flippin currently leading their respective conferences.
The Cotter Lady Warriors have compiled a 7-2 overall record and sit in first place in the 2A-2 conference with a 1-0 record. Cotter opened their season with commanding victories over Yellville-Summit (3-0) and Marshall (3-0) before falling to Harrison (2-0). They rebounded with wins against Flippin (2-0), Green Forest (2-0), and Quitman (2-0) before dropping another contest to Harrison, this time in a 3-1 match. Most recently, Cotter posted 3-0 wins over Berryville and Izard County.
The Flippin Lady Bobcats have also started strong, with a 4-2 overall record and an undefeated 3-0 standing in the 3A-2 conference, putting them in first place. Flippin secured tight victories over Cave City (3-2) and Bergman (3-2) and added a win against Melbourne (3-0). Losses came against Cotter (2-0) and Highland (3-1), but they logged a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Clinton.
The Yellville-Summit Lady Panthers currently hold a 2-5 overall record and are 2-2 in the 3A-2 conference, placing fifth. Yellville-Summit’s season highlights include a 3-2 victory over Valley Springs and a 3-1 win against Cave City. However, they suffered losses to Green Forest (2-0), Omaha (3-2), and most recently, Bergman (3-0).
Across the Missouri border, the Ava Lady Bears began their season with a decisive 3-0 win against Dora. Gainesville volleyball started with an impressive four-match winning streak, defeating Niangua (2-0), Koshkonong (2-0), Mammoth Spring (2-0), and Couch (2-0). Gainesville then suffered a 2-0 loss to Blue Eye but bounced back to defeat Koshkonong (2-0) again.
These early-season performances demonstrate the competitive spirit of area teams, with conference play promising more excitement in the weeks ahead.