Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

By Jason Fite

Sports writer

Photos/Pete Noblin

The Lewis County High School Lady Panthers hosted the Loretto Lady Mustangs on Monday, September 26th in junior varsity and varsity volleyball action.

In junior varsity play the Lady Mustangs took an early 5-2 lead after two rotations as the Lady Panther JV struggled to hold serve. Loretto rode a pair of 4-point runs in the next two rotations and took a 16-6 lead after four rotations. The Lady Panther JV was unable to hold service for the remainder of the opening junior varsity set and Loretto's junior varsity team took the opening set 25-13. The second set began with the Lady Mustang JV pulling out to a 6-2 lead early. The Lady Panthers picked up a couple of points in the next two rotations, but Loretto began to pull away with a 13-5 lead after four rotations. The Lady Panthers struggles holding service continued as Loretto was able to pull away to a 25-12 set win and 2-0 match victory.

Varsity action began with the Lady Mustangs showing their strength, starting the first set of play on a 6-point run. By the time the set had reached the fourth rotation the visitors had taken a 16-5 lead. The remainder of the first set was all Lady Mustangs as they cruised to a win in the first set 25-7. Loretto did not let up in the second set. The Lady Panthers held serve briefly in the first rotation but saw Loretto ride consecutive 4-point runs and take a 14-5 lead after four rotations. The Lady Panthers would not close the gap and Loretto took the second set 25-8. In the third and final set of varsity play the Lady Mustangs jumped out in front of the Lady Panthers 7-1 early. Loretto would continue to pound away and the Lady Panthers could not break service. Loretto would ultimately take the third set 25-5 and the varsity match 3-0.

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The Lewis County High School Lady Panthers hosted the Collinwood Lady Trojans on Tuesday, September 27th in junior varsity and varsity volleyball action.

In the opening set of junior varsity play the Lady Trojan junior varsity and Lady Panthers JV were locked in a tight matchup as both were able to hold service early to put together short point runs. After the fourth complete rotation the Lady Trojan JV held a 9-6 lead. The Lady Panther JV would fight back to briefly lead 15-13 after six rotations. In the eighth rotation of the first set Collinwood was able to pull out in front 21-18 and ended the first set in front 25-20. The second set of JV saw Lewis County take and early 6-4 lead after three rotations, and stretch the lead to 14-11 after six rotations. Collinwood would climb back in behind a pair of 4-point streaks and take a lead at 21-17, on their way to a set win 25-19 and match win 2-0.

In the varsity match Collinwood pulled out in front early in the first set 7-3 after two rotations. The Lady Trojans would continue to pressure the Lady Panthers as they held serve for point runs over the next three rotations and held an 18-7 lead after five rotations. Lewis County was unable to hold service for the rest of the first set and Collinwood took the set 25-9. After the break the Lady Panthers regrouped and were able to break the Lady Trojan service early and took an 8-6 lead in the early rotations. Collinwood chipped away at the Lewis County lead, but the Lady Panthers held a 16-15 lead after six complete rotations. Collinwood took a brief lead at 20-19. Lewis County would retake the lead at 22-21, but Collinwood would seal the second set 25-22. In the third and final set the two teams locked up in another tight set, exchanging the lead on service through five rotations as Lewis County held a 15-13 lead. Collinwood would take the lead at 17-16, and Lewis County reclaimed it at 20-18. Collinwood would reel off the final four points of the set to take the set victory 25-21 and the match 3-0.