Volleyball Sends Seniors Elms and Conaway Off With A Win

Volleyball Sends Seniors Elms and Conaway Off With A Win- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 11/4/23

Crowley's Ridge- 3

Baptist Bible- 0

Paragould, Ark- Pioneer Volleyball concluded their season this afternoon with a final matchup against Baptist Bible College in the Carter Activities Center. Before the contest began, two senior Lady Pioneers were recognized, Heather Conaway and Emi Elms. With such a special day being recognized, the rest of the Lady Pioneers rallied around the big moment and sent off the two seniors with a final win on their home court with a three-sweep.

 The Pioneers claimed the opening set of the match after a big mid-set rally. CRC saw themselves trailing 10-14 before Hannah Halverson and Alexis Weirich linked up with Jadyn Hesse to land 4 consecutive Pioneer kills against the Patriots' defense, tying the set 14 all. This swing of energy is what CRC needed to slip past Baptist Bible in the opening set, 25-22. In the second set, CRC faced a strong retaliation from the Patriots as it took the Pioneers extra frames to defeat BBC. Early in the set, CRC looked to senior Heather Conaway to change things back in CRC's favor. Down 6-2, Conaway served 5 points for CRC, finding the hardwood twice with service aces, giving CRC the 7-6 advantage. Now back in the set, CRC turned the contest into a ping-pong match as they traded point for point with the Patriots but because of a great defensive effort from several Lady Pioneers late in the set, CRC was able to sneak two kills in a row from Brooklynn Passmore and Jillian Glasgow, claiming the set 26-24. The final set became the "Emi Elms show" as the senior transformed into the team catalyst, getting CRC on the board with a big kill down the sideline cutting off the 4-0 run from BBC. CRC then strung 8 points together, taking the 8-4 lead. Elms helped CRC pull away from the Patriots by rattling off 4 consecutive kills and ultimately took matters into her own hands by ending the contest as the middle blocker met the Patriots at the net, rejecting the attack, and scoring the final point, winning the set for CRC, 25-22.

In the opening volleys of today's contest, Hannah Halverson reached the 1,200 mark in total digs, she currently sits second - all time. Jillian Glasgow was the only Pioneer to record a double-double with (11) assists and (12) digs. Halverson finished with a team-high (9) kills and a team-high (22) digs. Kinley Matlock chased after with her (19) digs. Heather Conaway added (11) more digs and (2) service aces. Emi Elms posted (8) kills and added (4) blocks in the 3-set sweep victory. #GOPIONEERS

Emi Elms and Heather Conaway are set to graduate in Spring 2024 and pursue their dreams of entering the education system where they will begin their next chapter of life. Senior #8 Heather Conaway wraps up her volleyball career as a 3-year member of the team. Over the three years, the defensive specialist has accumulated 545 digs on the back row, 43 kills, and played a total of 246 sets landing her 8th all-time in CRC's record book. Senior #9 Emi Elms completes her time in the green uniform as a four-year starter. In those 4 years, Elms collected 706 kills, 2nd all-time in CRC's history, attempted 2,448 attacks placing her 3rd all-time, the CRA graduate played a total of 355 sets which is the most in CRC's history, and finally, the middle blocker ended with 244 total career blocks which is 2nd all-time (130 of those being solos). Congratulations to the two seniors on your successful careers. May you never forget, once a Pioneer always a Pioneer.