LC Volleyball started their first CCS home tri-match dropping the opening two sets to Asbury University but responded by winning back-to-back sets to force the fifth. Despite their best efforts, the Panthers fell 3-2 to AU. This marks the first time LC faced the Eagles in Volleyball (AU joined the CCS this year).
The Panthers finished the day 1-1 after sweeping the Wolves of Wesleyan College 3-0.
First Match Details (LC vs AU)
Today's opening set against the visitors from Kentucky was close from the very first point. Asbury grabbed a tight lead but the Panthers kept fighting. A fantastic spike by
Julia Damico and a pair of AU errors brought the score within LC striking range. The Panthers were playing particularly well at the net in this set, especially
Zentrina Choice. Choice made multiple great plays to bring the score to 21-18 but AU was able to pull away to secure the 25-20 win.
LC started the second match trading points with AU. The lead changed constantly throughout the opening volleys. Choice picked up right from where she left off in set one, giving the Eagles trouble at the net. AU was just too much to handle, pulling away to win the second set 25-16.
AU jumped out at a 3-0 lead to start the third. Despite falling behind, LC kept grinding. Following back-to-back AU errors the Panthers found themselves down just 9-8. LC tied the game at 14-14 thanks to some strong plays made by
Murphy Boyette and co. The Panthers grabbed their first two point lead of the day (19-17) on a
Mamie Martenstein score. The game stayed locked up until the very end but LC held on to secure a 25-21 win.
In the fourth set, the Panthers came out swinging. The team held a 7-4 lead after strong LC shots were too powerful for AU to handle. The Eagles responded with a 3-0 run to tie the game a 7-7 but LC answered with a quick one-two combo in order to establish their biggest lead of the set (four). Following a huge kill by
Ella Kahikina, AU was forced to call a timeout to try to slow the bleeding. LC held a 13-8 lead at this break. The Panthers went on to win 25-15, forcing the fifth set.
The Eagles opened the final set securing a three point lead. After falling behind 6-3, LC clawed their way back to tie it a six apiece. AU responded with a three point run of their own which forced the Panthers to call a timeout. LC was able to battle their way back to being down just 14-12 however AU held on to win 15-12.
Zentrina Choice led the team in points (13), kills (10) and blocks (4).
Second Match Details
The Wolves of Wesleyan College opened the second match jumping out to a 3-0 lead. The Panthers quickly recovered, taking a 6-4 advantage thanks to a kill and a pair of service aces hit by Zentrina Choice. LC continued to put it on the Wolves, going up 16-9. The Panthers never looked back, securing a 25-11 win.
In the second set, LC continued their domination of the Wolves. The team started the set by going on a 6-0 run. Ella Kahikina was making big plays left and right during the second. In the first 12 Panther points, Kahikina accounted for three kills. If Kahikina was not securing the kills, Kaitlin Gilchrist would be there to cover. Through two sets, Gilchrist secured a team-high eight kills. LC won the set 25-16.
Similarly to the second set, LC started the third on a 8-0 run. It felt like the Panthers were able to do anything they wanted and the Wolves were just along for the ride. LC completed the match sweep after winning the third set 25-13.
It is worth mentioning that last year's team struggled to secure victories over WC. In both matches, it took LC five sets to get the win. This year's squad looked much improved from the previous season. With today's win over WC, the team has already tied the 2023 win total (4).
Top Panther Performers
Zentrina Choice was today's top Panther performer. In the first match, she led the team in points (13), kills (10) and blocks (4). In the second match, she posted a team-high nine digs, four aces and was second for most kills with seven.
Next up
The Panthers host Belhaven University next Thursday at 7 p.m.
