|
The Millstadt Panthers got off to a slow start, dropping the first of a three-game set against the Valmeyer Pirates before recovering to win the final two games and the match.
Valmeyer started game 1 quickly, and after the first three volleys led 3-0. After Millstadt cut the deficit to 2; Valmeyer proceeded to go on a 12-0 run behind the service of Miranda Kauffmann, and open up a 16-2 advantage over the Panthers.
In the first game, the Millstadt Panthers endured several missed opportunities. They lost some hard-fought volleys and suffered a 4-hit violation late in the game.
With the score at 16-3, Sarah Wessel began serving, led the team in a comeback attempt, and cut the lead to 7. The Panthers continued to battle and drew as close as 4 points, but were unable to overcome the deficit and lost game 1 to the Pirates 21-16.
Valmeyer served first in game 2, but Millstadt won the first three points. With Alyssa Laing serving for Millstadt, the Valmeyer Pirates had back-to-back return attempts hit the ceiling. The first one fell to the floor, but on the second, they were able to adjust and score for the first time in the game.
With score at 3-1 in favor of Millstadt, the Panthers slowly began to extend their lead. They made some great plays and won some long volleys. A terrific sliding return by Valmeyer’s Morgan Redohl was wasted as the Panthers were able to win the volley and extend their lead to 9-4.
Valmeyer won consecutive volleys for the first time in the game and cut the Panthers lead to 9-8 before Millstadt called a timeout. After the timeout, Millstadt built their lead back to 3. But the Pirates staged another comeback and tied the game at 11-11. An ace serve by Alyssa Laing helped the Panthers build some momentum as they increased their lead to 14-11. After yielding one point to Valmeyer, the Panthers won the next six points to take a commanding 20-12 lead. The Valmeyer Pirates weren’t ready to give up though. With Grace Nappier, the Pirates fought hard and cut the lead down to four. But an out of bounds serve ended the game and gave the Millstadt Panthers a 21-16 victory.
The Millstadt Panthers had first serve in Game 3 as they jumped out to an early lead. Alyssa Laing led the way with well-placed service to build an 8-0 advantage for the Panthers. McKenzie Redohl was serving when Valmeyer broke through and scored for the first time. But everything seemed to be going right for Millstadt as they enhanced their lead to 11-3.
But the Pirates began to mount a comeback. Behind the service of Grace Nappier and Miranda Kauffman, Valmeyer won 8 of the next 9 volleys to pull to within 2 points. However, that’s as close as they would ever come. With the score at a 12-10 Panthers lead, Millstadt began to pull away. The Panthers took the next 4 volleys and their lead stood at 16-10.
With a 16-12 advantage, Millstadt’s Kirby Forbeck made a diving return on a very well-placed serve from Valmeyer’s Danielle Wilson. The play started a run for the Panthers, as they won the final five points and enjoyed a decisive victory over the Valmeyer Pirates 21-12.
The Millstadt Panthers and Valmeyer Pirates both played well. The Panthers survived a slow start and several comeback attempts by the Pirates. In the end, however, they were able to come together when it counted, and win two out of three.
|
