The Alba-Golden Lady Panthers have been steadily preparing for their opening district match Sept. 23 against Como-Pickton. Their last step forward was a three set (25-13, 25-11, 25-11) sweep of the visiting Harleton Ladycats last Tuesday.

The service game carried the Lady Panthers throughout the match. Alba-Golden recorded 25 aces, including four consecutive by Sadie Wright in the first set. 

Wright, more than any of her teammates, was dialed in from the service line – issuing serves which handcuffed the Harleton backline. Her serves were squarely hit and arrived at the backline at just the right height and angle to cause confusion on how to return the serve.

Also having a big day from the service line were Jayla Sitar, Averi Stevenson and Riley Hass. Stevenson ended the first and second sets with aces. 

Three passages of play indicated the progress the Lady Panthers have made in the pre-district campaign. Improved timing at the net – as evidenced by Briana Ringgold’s block early in the first set – is one obvious improvement. 

The short set by Sitar to feed Stevenson in the second set led to a resounding kill and was executed in textbook fashion. Lastly, attacks from the left wing by Campbell Shrum have become well-placed and generated with significant velocity. 

While reviewing the many positives from last Tuesday, the Lady Panthers will also digest the number of service errors and mis-hits which gifted points to the opposition. Harleton earned, through attacking volleyball, only ten total points in the match. The other 25 points were handling errors by Alba-Golden. 

The Lady Panthers travelled to Lone Oak and Rains for their last two pre-district warm-up matches, before hosting Como-Pickton in the district opener. Look for Alba-Golden to be fighting for a district title.