Salem could not keep up with energy that flowed from Conway Christian as the Lady Greyhounds fell to the Lady Eagles at Eagle Arena in the first round of the Class 2A state tournament.
The Lady Greyhounds (11-11) managed to maintain pace with Conway Christian (17-2) at the start of the first set until senior Sophie Fulgham stepped up to the line for six straight service points, including three aces and kills from sophomore Lily Brister, for an 11-5 lead. Salem pulled within four, but senior Emily Dather widened the spread with another six service points and four aces for 19-9 en route to a 25-14 win that was closed out by a kill from Fulgham off a Dather assist.
Salem picked up a 4-1 lead behind junior Kyla Stevens heading into the second set as the Lady Eagles snatched it back behind senior Eden Brister, the lead still within reach. That quickly changed as senior Haley Shourd put up 12 straight points, the Lady Greyhounds suffering a 16 point deficit.
Salem tried to revive, but it was cut off as Dather set up classmate Rachel Mohr for a kill that gave the service back to Conway Christian. The Lady Eagles had a chance to take the win behind Fulgham, but struggled defensively until an offensive error for the Lady Greyhounds ended the set, 25-15.
In the final set, Conway Christian jumped out to a 4-0 lead and the Lady Greyhounds came within 2, but another six-point stretch from Shourd broadened their lead to 12-4. Mohr struck gold with another kill off a Dather assist to give the Lady Eagles possession once again as Mohr landed an ace. Salem's performance continued to struggle with an attacking error setting them back even more before Fulgham powered up with four service points, including two aces. The remainder of the set saw back-and-forth play as Eden Brister brought it home with the kill for the victory, 28-13.
Dather led Conway Christian with 12 assists, five aces, three digs, and one kill. Eden Brister finished with six kills and an ace, Fulgham had six kills and fives aces, Mohr had three kills, five blocks and one ace, and Shourd added six aces and a dig.
For Salem, junior Yuki Beller had two digs, an assist and an ace. Senior Mackenzie Hill finished with two digs, a kill and an ace, and classmate Shae Bassham had three digs.
Conway Christian will play Lavaca today at 6 p.m.