Lady Panthers crisp in home opener win

Posted 8/27/20

The 2020 home opener for the Lady Panthers of Alba-Golden was a resounding success. Yes, they dismantled the Lady Lions of Union Grove (25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-10), but the real story was how they …

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Lady Panthers crisp in home opener win

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The 2020 home opener for the Lady Panthers of Alba-Golden was a resounding success. Yes, they dismantled the Lady Lions of Union Grove (25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-10), but the real story was how they did it.

Coach Jamie Webster’s charges exhibited a strong service game, excellent game floor communications and quick feet to register their first home win of the year. The problems which had plagued last year’s squad seemed ages past. 

Even when periodically hit amiss, the service game exuded confidence and power. It was the most obvious change to the team and speaks well for personal commitment and individual skills improvement. 

Team communications were as night and day compared to last year. Only twice did defensive communications failures lead directly to lost points. The first instance occurred midway through game two and the second early in game four. 

The team had a plan and it showed. 

Lastly, the Lady Panthers did little standing around. Players often had to avoid a live ball being played by a teammate as they hustled back to their assigned positions. The team was, except for a brief period of time at the end of game three, on the balls of their feet. 

They played a fluid volleyball, not a static volleyball. 

Early on, the match was dominated by mis-hit balls by both sides. Game one was tied at 10 before Alba-Golden rallied behind the service of Kayli Covey for a six-point run. 

The Lady Panthers opened up a nine-point lead after a well-placed Crimson Bryant drop shot. 

Union Grove fought back. The Lady Lions closed to within four points before Cacie Lennon scored the winning point with a push shot. 

The Alba-Golden offense woke up in game two. Kills by Kaylie Anglin, Autumn Whitten, Bryant and Lennon and a game-winning shot from Kalli Wright highlighted the action.    

The Lady Lions took game three when the home side committed five consecutive unforced errors.

In yet another departure from the previous year, the loss of game three did not carry over to the match-deciding game four.

Game four featured excellent Lady Panther net play and solid back court execution. Alba-Golden had doubled the score at 18-9 and went on to win game four 25-10. The relentlessness with which the Lady Panthers played in game four sapped the will of the visitors. 

The performance of Kaylee Anglin coming in off the right wing was especially noteworthy. 

The type of volleyball played last Tuesday is just what Alba-Golden fans have been looking for. It certainly is encouraging for upcoming district play.