Written by: Danny Talbert
Despite losing 3-0 to the visiting Wildcats, the Panthers used great communication and teamwork to stay competitive throughout (Oct. 26).
The Panthers went down 4-1 quickly in the first set, but after an early sub, the Panthers clawed back to bring it to 8-7. The Wildcats defense played the Panthers spikes very well in the first. After two great blocks by the visiting Wildcats, Journey Oden sent a thunderous spike past the Fort Valley defenders. Each team continued to trade points back and forth until the Panthers scored three in a row to tie it at 12-12. Fort Valley was then able to briefly pull away after some costly LC errors gave the Wildcats free points. Even with those errors, the Panthers were able to keep it close with the help of their superb on-court communication. LC stayed close but the Wildcats were able to pull away with a 25-20 win in the first set.
Fort Valley st. got off to a quick start, going up 7-3 in the second set. Oden's spikes in the first set became so deadly that she was able to take advantage of the Wildcats' overzealous net defense in the second set. When the defenders would crowd the net, instead of spiking the ball she would tap it over the defenders to get LC points. The Panthers were able to fight back and bring the score to an 11-8 Wildcat lead. Zentrina Choice then made some great plays at the front of the net to cut the lead. On one volley, she had a strong block at the net and then hit a powerful spike that ricocheted off of the Wildcats defender and into the rafters for a Panther point. With this great play and others, LC dug themselves out of the deficit to tie it at 12-12. Both teams continued to battle back and forth until the score was tied at 22-22. Despite the Panthers' best effort, the Wildcats would win the second set after they scored three in a row. Fort Valley won 25-22.
Even though the Panthers were down 2-0 in sets, the team got off to a hot start in the third, going up 3-0. LC then forced a Wildcat timeout after scoring three of the next four points to go up 6-1. Following the Wildcat timeout, Fort Valley was able to come back and tie it at 10-10. The Panthers stayed competitive until the very end, but the Wildcats offense was too much to handle for LC. Fort Valley st. won the third set 25-21.
Next match
The next time the team plays is in a home tri-match this Saturday (Oct. 28). The Panthers play Maryville at 12 p.m. and Agnes Scott at 2 p.m.
