The Morrilton Lady Devil Dog Volleyball team made another dream come true on Saturday, winning the 2003 AAAA State Championship over Siloam Springs. Morrilton went into the tournament as the defending 2002 Champions, the number one team in the AAAA West Conference and ranked number one in the AAAA in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette volleyball poll.  The Lady Devil Dogs began their quest for the championship on Thursday, defeating Helena Central in the first round by a score of 25-8, 25-6, 25-8. Rachel Halbrook had 15 kills and two blocks in the match. Stephanie Hart added 9 kills. Michlene Criswell, Ashley Robin, Katelyn Browning, Sammantha Hicks, Rachel Halbrook and Meagan Fornash all had 100% service efforts in the match. All nine MHS seniors saw action in the win over Helena.  On Friday, Morrilton faced Vilonia in the quarterfinals. Vilonia was the number two team from the East conference. It took only three games again for the Lady Devil Dogs to take the victory, winning by a score of 25-17, 25-10, 25-11. Halbrook again led the hitting, going 30 for 32 with 20 kills. Hart and Sammantha Hicks had 8 kills each. Criswell, Robin, Hicks, Halbrook, Fornash and Becca Rathbun had 100% service efforts. Jessica Virden led the team with 16 service points.  In the semifinals on Friday, Morrilton faced Harrison. This was a rematch of the 2002 state finals, where the Lady Devil Dogs defeated the Lady Goblins for the championship. Morrilton proved again that playing on your home court is not a factor to the outcome of a match,winning the match in four games by a score of 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, and 25-6. Because of the many times that Morrilton has traveled to Harrison to play, the Lady Devil Dogs call Harrison "Motown North" and feel almost at home on their court. The Lady Goblins couldn't stop Rachel Halbrook who went 40 for 44 with 29 kills and had 10 blocks in the match. Hicks had 10 kills and Hart had 8 kills with 6 blocks. Robin, Hicks, and Fornash had 100% service efforts with Fornash going 23 for 23 with 15 service points.   The victory put the Lady Devil Dogs into the championship again, this time against another conference rival Siloam Springs. Siloam was the number three team out of the conference, they defeated Alma, who was the number two team from the strong West conference. Siloam won in three games to advance to the finals. Morrilton and Siloam Springs were facing off for the third time this season. MHS defeated SSHS in a close five game match during the conference season. At that time, Morrilton took over the number one state ranking in the AAAA. The Lady Devil Dogs also defeated the Lady Panthers in the semifinals of the conference tournament in three games just a week earlier in Harrison.   The Lady Devil Dogs took the early lead in the first game of the finals, scoring the first four points before Siloam put a point on the board. The teams traded kills and great defensive plays with Morrilton holding the lead until the Lady Panthers began to inch their way back into the game. Siloam rallied and tied the score 15 all with an ace serve. The lead traded several times, tied again at 20-20, when Morrilton was blocked by Siloam for the Lady Panthers to take the one point lead. Morrilton took their first timeout in the game, only to have Siloam take advantage and go ahead 22-24. After another Morrilton timeout, the Lady Devil Dogs where able to regroup, sideout and behind the serving of Fornash tie the game again at 24 all. Siloam scored again to take the lead, but Morrilton wasn't going down. Behind the serving of Criswell and two kills by Halbrook and a block on the final point, the Lady Devil Dogs took the important first game by a score of 27-25.  Siloam Springs took advantage of some Morrilton passing errors and jumped to the early lead in the second game Down 3-12, the Lady Devil Dogs rallied behind the defensive play of Fornash and the serving of Robin and came within six points, but Siloam held on and won the second game by a score of 17-25.  With the match even at one game each, the Lady Devil Dogs scored first in the third game. Morrilton lead through most of the game, but the pesky Lady Panthers just wouldn't go away, tying the game at 20-20. Morrilton took the lead with Criswell and Virden serving and behind the hitting of Halbrook and Hicks and won the battle by a score of 25-20.  The Lady Devil Dogs again scored first in the fourth game, but soon fell behind to the Lady Panthers who were fighting to stay in the match. Morrilton was able to keep the game within reach, but were not able to catch up, as Siloam won the game 19-25. The Lady Panther win pushed the match into a five game.  Morrilton lost the coin toss for the fifth game and Siloam Springs chose to serve. The Lady Devil Dogs elected to stay on the east side of the court, the same side that Morrilton won on to win the 2002 state championship. The match begin with Morrilton scoring on a Rachel Halbrook kill. Behind the large group of very loud MHS fans, the Lady Devil Dogs were off and running and never looked back. Morrilton never allowed Siloam to get in rhythm. The Lady Panthers made 10 passing and hitting errors in the fifth game. Fornash came in to serve with the score 11-5. At 13-5, Halbrook nailed her third kill of the game over a triple block by Siloam. Fornash had only to put the final point in play, as Siloam's hit went into the net to give Morrilton the 15-5 fifth game victory and the 2003 State Championship.  With back to back State Championships, a Conference Season and Tournament Championships, undefeated in conference play and a 24-7 record, it's proven that dreams do come true. They can come true more than once, if you put enough work into it!!!

Michlene Criswell - AAAA All State, Sammantha Hicks - AAAA All State Tournament, Rachel Halbrook - AAAA All State, All State Tournament and Tournament Most Valuable Player, Meagan Fornash - AAAA All State Tournament