The Lady Panthers had put their best effort forward in the first set of last Friday’s match against the visiting Rains Ladycats. They fell in that first set 26-24 and never regained their edge. The Ladycats went home with a straight-set (26-24, 25-11, 25-14) win.

That first set was a story told from the service line. The Lady Panthers committed six service errors. Unusual for the Lady Panthers, the errors may have resulted from the surge of adrenalin associated with the beginning of a match. 

Rains was not immune to the same mistakes, and they likewise offered up four service errors in that first set. 

However, the visitors stroked five aces in the set, the last two breaking a 19 all tie and putting Rains out front for good. The home side managed only two – one from Alexis Wilmut and one from Piper Hallman. 

It was Hallman who had a stand-out set to begin the match. She made a series of excellent digs which kept the Lady Panthers in the set. Meanwhile, the action at the net was 50/50, with Alba-Golden matching the effort and effectiveness of the Ladycats.   

With Rains sitting at set-point, the Ladycat service hit the tape atop the net, rolled up and popped over the net for a very un-ace-like ace. But, they all count, and it cost Alba-Golden the first set.

A heavy curtain then descended in the gymnasium, and the Lady Panthers never recovered from that first set loss. Meanwhile, the Ladycats began to pound the ball at the net, using short-sets to great advantage.   

As Alba-Golden sought a way to fight out of the fog, frustration set in, and the Lady Panthers overcooked many shot attempts. Rains just poured it on with multiple second-set aces.

The Lady Panthers fought back in the third set. An emphatic kill by Lainey Teel tied the score at 14 after some great scrambling by the Lady Panthers. It was the last point for the home side, however, as the Ladycats rattled off 11 consecutive scores to make for a quick trip back up Hwy. 69.

In addition to Hallman’s first set performance, youngsters Sadie Wright and Jayla Sitar made excellent contributions late in the match. 

The Lady Panthers open district play Friday as they host Como-Pickton at 4:30 p.m.