After a devastating first round loss to Shepherd on Thursday, Jefferson High’s Lady Panther volleyball team returned to Manhattan Friday morning for the Southern B Divisional tournament to take on the Red Lodge Rams in a loser-out match.
Despite the team’s nerves, the Lady Panthers earned an early lead of 6-3 over the Rams thanks to several well-placed tips and kills by junior Arena Faler. The Rams caught back up tying the set at 10-10. From there on out, the Lady Panthers were able to stay ahead and claimed the set 25-17.
In the second, trailed until senior Jessie Harris got the ball, serving the team up from 6-6 to 11-7. The Lady Panthers stayed one step ahead of the Rams until they tied the score at 23 all, eventually taking the set 25-23.
Shaken by the loss, the Lady Panthers dropped the third too 19-25.
The fourth set remained neck-in-neck until junior Haleigh Henschel serves brought the team up 15-12. From the Lady Panthers maintained their lead using junior Avery Popp to serve the team to 23-16. Jefferson won the set 25-17, battling in the fifth to win the match 15-12.
Junior MacKenzie Layng led the team in stats with 33 assists, 17 digs, one kill and one ace.
Senior Emma McCauley was second with 45 digs, two kills and one ace, followed by Faler with 24 kills and 12 digs.
Sophomore Cameron Toney had the second most kills on the team with 17 in addition to her one block and 11 digs.
Sophomore Erica Shields and Henschel tied for second in digs with 21 each. Shields also earned seven assists and one kill while Henschel had two aces.
Jefferson’s Lady Panthers then played in another loser out match against the Broadwater Bulldogs.
Running two hours behind schedule, the Lady Panthers entered the match well-rested and poised for another chance to take down their season rivals.
Broadwater started with the serve, but it was quickly turned over to the Lady Panthers, allowing them to get up 10-3 in just a few rotations.
The Bulldogs were able to decrease their points deficit to 14-19 when their libero served five consecutive points. The side-out gave the Lady Panthers’ Maddy Averill the serve, which she used to finish the set 25-14.
Hoping to carry the momentum into the second set, the Lady Panthers kept the Bulldogs within their reach, eventually falling just 23-25.
The Lady Panthers were left stumbling when Eveland injured her back in the third set, ending her time on the court this season. The Broadwater Bulldogs claimed the third set 25-15.
Not ready to give up their chance at attending the state championship, the Lady Panthers stayed close to the Bulldogs in the fourth set, tying from one to nine. A run by the Bulldogs’ Trinity Wilson put the Lady Panthers down 12-19. Although the Lady Panthers continued to battle for the set, they fell to the Bulldogs 18-25.
McCauley led the crew in stats with 48 digs, one kill and one ace. Layng was second with 24 assists and nine digs, followed by Faler with 21 kills and 10 digs.
Shields fought to defend the Lady Panthers’ territory, earning 25 digs and five assists during the match. Toney earned 14 kills and eight digs.
The team put forth an incredible performance throughout the tournament and has vowed to return next year “even better.”
