The Cotter Lady Warriors clinched a berth in this year’s Class 2A state volleyball tournament with a straight-set victory over the Marshall Lady Bobcats during the first round of the 2A North Central Region tournament. The game took place Monday afternoon at St. Joseph High School in Conway.
Cotter set the tone early with a dominant 25-9 win in the first set. The Lady Warriors faced stronger resistance in the second set but managed to edge out Marshall, 25-22. Cotter sealed the match with a decisive 25-10 victory in the third set.
The win advances Cotter to the regional semifinals, where they will face the winner of the Omaha and Southside Bee Branch match.
Other regional teams also competed Monday. The Viola Lady Longhorns took on tournament host St. Joseph in their first-round matchup, which was ongoing at press time. Later in the evening, the Izard County Lady Cougars were set to face Hector at 6 p.m. in the final regional game of the day.
Meanwhile, at the 3A East Regional tournament at Hoxie High School, the Salem Lady Greyhounds concluded their season with a three-set loss to Crowley’s Ridge. After falling 25-16 in the first set, Salem struggled in the second, losing 25-5, before dropping the third set 25-13.
The Melbourne Lady Bearkatz also exited the tournament early, falling to Newport in their first-round match. Despite keeping the second set close at 26-24, Melbourne’s season ended after losing all three sets, with scores of 25-15, 26-24, and 25-19.
Flippin’s Lady Bobcats were scheduled to play Harrisburg in Monday’s late game at 6 p.m.