By Ashley Crutcher
The South Panola varsity volleyball team won their first match of the season 3-2 Tuesday afternoon as they faced Columbus in district action.
The Lady Tigers came back in the third set after being bested 25-19 in the first and 25-21 in the second set. Each set was a close one as the teams trailed each other for the majority of each set.
The Lady Tigers were able to benefit as Columbus continuously knocked the ball out of bounds or into the net on their serve. South Panola is stepping up with longer volleys in a set as well as more digs saving the ball from the ground.
In Set two, Nicole Rensink made multiple digs to prevent the point as Teddera Patton knocked the ball to the other side for the final point on set two.
The teams were neck in neck for the final three sets. Patton, Bri Bradley and newcomer Emma Devetta, who is a foreign exchange student from Italy, made digs preventing Columbus from scoring.
Another newcomer to the Lady Tigers volleyball team made her debut on the court. Malin Ekiroth, another foreign exchange student from Sweden has joined the Lady Tigers volleyball team.
The match was halted in the third set as the score was tied 18-18, after Columbus received the rally point.
Coach Lisa Lewis requested a reserve as the ground referee was talking to the score booth as the play was in progress. The refs granted the Lady Tigers a reserve which changed the score back to 18-17.
The Lady Tigers were able to defeat Columbus, 25-22, with better serves as well as passes. Kia Coleman had one of the best serves in the fourth set as she served four points including two aces.
The Lady Tigers bested Columbus in the fourth set as well, 25-16. Kaitlyn Tidwell saved the Lady Tigers with a dig to keep the volley going allowing Rensink to tap the ball over the net for the winning point.
In the last set, the Lady Tigers only had to score 15 points for the win. South Panola surpassed Columbus scoring ahead three points in their second serve. Columbus was unable to keep the ball out of the net and out of bounds, leaving the Lady Tigers open to claim the victory, 15-7.
“Fundamentally we are challenged. We face teams like Tupelo and Hernando who have been playing for years. But our girls want to learn and we are going to keep getting better,” said assistant Coach Lisa Lewis.
There is no doubt the Lady Tigers are improving and if they keep improving at this rate South Panola volleyball will be a team to compete with.
The junior varsity won their match against Columbus 2-1. Columbus took the first set 26-24 as the Lady Tigers trailed by two.
The Lady Tigers swept the floor with Columbus in the final two sets, defeating the competition 25-11 in the first and 15-6 in the third.
The Lady Tigers will play away against New Albany Monday at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.