Jefferson High’s volleyball team took its next step into the post-season at the Southern 5B Divisional tournament on Thursday with a first round match against Shepherd.
The Lady Panthers entered the match with the determination to go all the way, winning the first set 25-21 with a soft tip by junior Arena Faler.
In the second, the Lady Panthers went back-and-forth with Shepherd, dropping the set 27-29.
After the loss, the team struggled to get its footing all the while landing kill after kill on the Shepherd’s side of the court. Shepherd took the next two sets 25-21 and 25-16.
Senior Emma McCauley did all she could to defend the Lady Panther’s territory racking up 30 digs and three aces. Next in line were junior MacKenzie Layng and sophomore Erica Shields with 16 digs each, followed by junior Haleigh Henschel with 13.
Freshman Ryian Eveland took charge of defense at the net, earning five blocks during the course of the match. Junior Clara Genger was second in blocks with two.
Faler led the team’s offense with 24 kills, followed by sophomore Cameron Toney with 20.
Layng earned 27 assists, Shields 11 and Eveland three.
The Lady Panthers will return to Manhattan to take on the loser of a match between Colstrip and Red Lodge at 10 a.m.
