Halloween Day 2020….a date that is burned into the minds of Paris volleyball players and their fans. After rolling through the first three rounds of the state volleyball tournament at Little Rock Episcopal, the Lady Eagles were matched with the Hackett Lady Hornets on this day for the Class 3A state volleyball championship in a much-anticipated championship match-up by fans of both schools. And on that day in Hot Springs…it wasn’t even close. The Hackett Lady Hornets, defending 2019 Class 2A champions, swept the Lady Eagles in dominating fashion, easily defeating Paris in three straight sets.
For some high school volleyball programs, a season finish as the state runner-up is viewed as a very successful year; a year to be proud of. But in Paris, that is not necessarily the case. And in 2021, the predominantly sophomore / junior team of 2020 returns as a more experienced group. And this year’s edition of the Lady Eagles have one goal in mind, and that is to win a state championship.
The Lady Eagles have been at work all season with the exception of the mandatory two weeks “dead period” as mandated by the Arkansas Activities Association. The team has played in countless tournaments around the state and region, preparing the team to start the season officially on August 23 at Russellville. The Lady Eagles will have a tough non-conference schedule early that will further their preparation for the upcoming conference season.
The team was recently featured on “The Sports Brew” internet show, hosted by local voice of the Eagles, Tim Johns. The show was held remotely at The Grapevine Restaurant in Paris. Host Tim Johns interviewed the coaches and the players, with each player having the opportunity to take the microphone and introduce themselves and the positions they play. Throughout the show, the players’ comments were consistently centered around the philosophy of “one point at a time” and their ultimate goal of winning another Class 3A state championship this fall.
And for the Lady Eagles, it will be tough early as Paris begins play at Russellville on August 23. Highlighting the first week of the season will be an important return match against non-conference opponent Fort Smith Southside who dominated Paris last year in Fort Smith. The Lady Eagles need to be more competitive with the Lady Mavericks this year in front of the Paris fans.
Paris will host an Arkansas Activities Association benefit match against Class 4A Farmington and Hot Springs Fountain Lake on August 19. The three teams will play a “camp format” where each school will play two-set matches against other. Farmington and Fountain Lake will play the first match at 5:30 pm and Paris will play immediately afterwards in the second match. This will be the final tune-up for the teams before they open the season on the following Monday.
Stay with Resident Press for complete coverage of Lady Eagles volleyball. I will be in Paris on August 19 to bring you all of the action that will be published in a story in Resident Press on Saturday, August 21. Also, photos from the Lady Eagles’ appearance on the Sports Brew Show are now available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. Throughout the season, photos from the Lady Eagles’ games will be posted on Facebook and on the Paris school district site at parischools.org
Thanks for reading Resident Press, and I look forward to seeing you at the games starting next week!
