Early season volleyball can be challenging. The game can seem perplexing at times, as teams work to realize that moment when they can be an efficient volleyball machine. So it was for the Alba-Golden Lady Panthers in their opening match in the Gilmer Invitational last week.

The hosts handed the Lady Panthers a straight-set defeat (25-7, 25-13) last Thursday morning.

As with most team events, close examination can lead to interesting conclusions. For the Lady Panthers, those learning points will likely fall into two categories: self-inflicted errors and indications of future success.

Alba-Golden gifted Gilmer 14 points in the first set and 10 points in the second set due to mis-hits, net violations and service errors. The lesson is pretty clear – tighten up the techniques and remove the giveaways.

The second lesson comes from the positive side of the ledger. In the first set, the Lady Panthers recorded five offensive scores, in the second set, seven. Each of those scores illustrates that the Lady Panthers can run the offense and score.

Those scores included three kills by Averi Stevenson, a kill by Sadie Wright, a drop-shot and a push-shot by Campbell Shrum, a drop-shot by Jayla Sitar, a block by Faith Graham and aces by Stevenson, Wright and Adie Smith. 

Following a Tuesday matchup at Harleton and next week’s tourney at Ore City, the Lady Panthers will be on their home court on Friday, Sept. 5. The varsity match against Rivercrest is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. District competition begins Tuesday, Sept. 23 when the Lady Panthers host Como-Pickton.