Morrilton, AR – History has been made! The Gravette Lady Lions Volleyball Team secured their first-ever 4A North Regional Championship after an impressive run through the tournament, culminating in a hard-fought victory over Prairie Grove in the finals. The Lady Lions showcased grit and determination, winning three straight matches to take the title and punch their ticket to the state tournament.
In the opening round, Gravette faced off against the Clarksville Panthers, winning 3-0 with set scores of 25-20, 25-10, 26-24. The Lady Lions were led by senior outside hitter Ella Pinches, who recorded 13 kills and 13 digs, while Emma Renfrow added 12 kills to power the offense. McKenna Frazier distributed 13 assists to go along with 4 kills and 11 digs, and Meara Russell contributed 16 assists in the well-rounded performance. On defense, Laney Chilton was relentless, collecting a team-high 21 digs as Gravette advanced.
In the semifinals, Gravette faced a strong Huntsville Eagles squad but once again emerged victorious, sweeping the Eagles 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 29-27). Ella Pinches delivered another standout performance, tallying 12 kills and 21 digs, while Emma Renfrow and Drew Madison combined for 15 kills to keep the offense firing. McKenna Frazier quarterbacked the team with 20 assists, and Laney Chilton stepped up again defensively with a game-high 27 digs. The Lady Lions fought off Huntsville’s late comeback attempt in a thrilling third set to book their place in the finals.
In the championship match, the Lady Lions faced Prairie Grove, a familiar opponent. Gravette stormed through the first two sets (25-13, 25-17), but Prairie Grove pushed back to win the third set (24-26). The Lady Lions responded with resilience, taking the fourth set (25-19) and clinching the regional title for the first time in school history. Ella Pinches led the way once again with a dominant 19 kills, 13 digs, and 3 aces, while McKenna Frazier showcased her all-around game with 5 kills, 19 assists, 10 digs, and 4 aces. Emma Renfrow and Mackenzie Wolf contributed 13 kills and 8 kills, respectively, while Laney Chilton anchored the defense with 24 digs. Rebekah Hearne added 3 aces and 4 digs in the championship performance.
With this historic victory, the Lady Lions head into the state tournament with momentum and confidence. As regional champions, they have proven they can compete with the best and will look to carry this success forward as they aim for even greater heights.
Tournament Recap:
1st Round vs. Clarksville Panthers: 25-20, 25-10, 26-24
Ella Pinches: 13 kills, 13 digs
Emma Renfrow: 12 kills
McKenna Frazier: 4 kills, 13 assists, 11 digs
Meara Russell: 16 assists
Laney Chilton: 21 digs
Semifinals vs. Huntsville Eagles: 25-20, 25-19, 29-27
Ella Pinches: 12 kills, 21 digs
Emma Renfrow: 8 kills
Drew Madison: 7 kills
McKenna Frazier: 20 assists
Meara Russell: 13 assists
Laney Chilton: 27 digs
Finals vs. Prairie Grove: 25-13, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19
Ella Pinches: 19 kills, 13 digs, 3 aces
McKenna Frazier: 5 kills, 19 assists, 10 digs, 4 aces
Emma Renfrow: 13 kills
Mackenzie Wolf: 8 kills
Drew Madison: 5 kills
Meara Russell: 16 assists, 7 digs, 4 aces
Laney Chilton: 24 digs
Rebekah Hearne: 3 aces, 4 digs
The Lady Lions will now look ahead to the state tournament in Huntsville