The LaGrange College Volleyball Team (6-15) defeated the Huntingdon Hawks (8-16) by a final score of 3-1 Wednesday evening (Oct. 16) on the heels of one of the best performances of the season from the Panthers.

Match Details
The Panthers came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set, bursting to a 10-4 run to start things off. 10 different Panthers found their name on the scoresheet in the first set, as they went on to win 25-17 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set seemed to be all Hawks as they jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead early on in the frame. The hosts LC would continue to work, however, and end up taking a 16-15 lead midway through the set. The Hawks found a way to answer as they took a late 20-19 lead, inching closer to winning position. Despite a late attempt to put together a rally, the Panthers could not stop the visiting HC as they took the second set 25-19 to knot things up at one-apiece.

Both teams endured one of the most competitive battles of their respective seasons in the third set. With a slight 10-9 edge early on, Huntingdon seemed to be right on track to continuing their momentum from the second set. A handful of errors, however, allowed the Panthers to jump in front 20-19 late as the entire Richter Gym crowd of half a hundred could feel the momentum shifting their way. They would capitalize on the crowd's energy, going up 24-20 and, despite a defiant three-point burst from the Hawks, were able to secure the third stanza 25-23 to regain the lead 2-1.

With victory in their clutches, the Panthers put together one of their most dominant sets of the entire season in the fourth. Although it didn't start out that way, as Huntingdon led early 10-8, Kaitlin Gilchrist ingnited her team's offense as they exploded for a 12-4 run to take a 20-14 lead late in the set. With their opponent's backs against the ropes, Gilchrist would finish things off by earning the match-winning kill to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.  

Top Panther Performers
Claire Titus, Zentrina Choice and Ella Kahikina each found double-digit numbers in the kill department, with 14 (Titus) and 10 (Choice and Kahikina) kills, respectively.

Julia Damico and Isabella Zentkovich held down the fort defensively for the Panthers, with Damico leading the team with 13 digs followed by an 11-dig performance from Zentkovich on the evening.

Next Match
The Panthers will be back in action when they head to Macon, Ga Saturday (Oct. 19) to take on Wesleyan College and Asbury University in a tri-match, their second with the two teams this season. For links to stream the match and live stats, click here.