Panthers take three-set win over rivals

Published 9:56 am Thursday, September 4, 2014

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By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

The Chilton County and Jemison varsity volleyball rivalry continued on Tuesday night as the ladies took to the court in Clanton.

This time it was the Panthers (3-1) that came out on top with a 3 sets to 1 (25-20, 25-16, 17-25, 25-22) win over the Tigers.

Full of emotion: Jemison’s Kelsey Lowery (right) celebrates Jemison’s win on Tuesday.

Full of emotion: Jemison’s Kelsey Lowery (right) celebrates Jemison’s win on Tuesday.

The Panthers started Set 1 on a 13-5 run before the Tigers went on a couple of runs of their own to draw to within four, 19-15.

With one final run to reach set point, a bad serve by the Tigers gave Jemison the win in Set 1.

The Panthers took over serving duties to start Set 2 after an out-of-bounds serve by the Tigers, and went on a 4-0 run to start the set behind the serving of Hannah Dutton.

With a 21-16 lead, the Panthers turned serving duties over to Taylor Ray, who led her team on a 4-0 run and a second straight set win.

Facing a must-win in Set 3, the Tigers (0-2) jumped out to a 9-3 lead early in the set.

With a back-and-forth battle throughout much of the set, the Tigers took over serving duties with a 20-17 lead. With Anna Mims serving for Chilton County, the Tigers ended Set 3 on a 5-0 run to pick up the win.

With Set 4 tied at 2-all, the Panthers went on a 5-0 run behind the serving of Ray to open up a 7-2 lead.

Hannah Northcutt led another Panther run, this time for six straight points and a 20-12 lead.

The Tigers wouldn’t go quietly, as Kyla Corley and Kaley Lucas led Chilton County runs, but it was not to be as the Panthers picked up the set win that would also give them the match win.

The Tigers are scheduled to host Isabella on Thursday, while the Panthers will travel to Calera on Sept. 9, with both games beginning at 4:30 with junior varsity action.