LaGrange opened its 2021 indoor volleyball season with a 3-1 hard-fought USA South win over Berea on Sunday at Mariotti Gym. The Panthers reversed the outcome with the Mountaineers from the 2019 USA South West Division Tournament. LC took the match by scores of 26-24, 22-25, 26-24, and 25-21.

Senior Yasmin Roper was recognized before the match. Roper had 11 kills and three block assists in Sunday's match.

Junior McKenzie Richards set career highs with a double-double of 18 kills and 18 digs. Richards tied with Berea's Deanna De La Torre for game honors in kills. Freshman Journey Oden had 12 kills, seven solo blocks, and two block assists in her first collegiate match. Kirsten Boyd set a career high with 51 assists and finished her double-double with 10 digs. Sophomore Bre Dufault, a transfer from Mobile University playing in her first full match, had a match-high 30 digs. 

The Panthers trailed 24-22 in the first set. After a Berea attack error, Oden tied the set at 24 with a kill. She and Richards teamed up for a block to put LC up 25-24. Berea committed another attack error to give the set to the Panthers, 26-24. The Mountaineers squared the match with a 25-22 win in the second set.

LC rallied once again to take the third set, 26-24. The Panthers led from the outset of the fourth set but had to hold off a Mountaineer rally. Roper broke a 21-21 tie with back-to-back kills. Oden closed out the match with a kill off Boyd's final assist.

The Panthers play at Huntingdon on Wednesday, March 10, in a USA South match.

For continuing coverage of Panther athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.