Tuesday’s performance against Dawson-Boyd took care of any concerns about the Panther volleyball team being tired after playing five competitive matches in last Friday and Saturday’s Southwest Challenge.
A breakout match for hitter Allie Adams helped lift the Panthers to a 25-11, 25-20, 2511 win over Dawson-Boyd in their Camden Conference opener. It was TMB’s first home win of the season.
“I don’t think we were tired at all,” said TMB hitter Gretchen Lanoue. “Saturday, we were pretty tired, but Sunday was a good day to rest, then (Monday) we got back at it.”
An 8-1 run in Set 1 put TMB ahead 19-7. A number of Blackjacks errors prevented them from getting any closer than that as the Panthers cruised to the win.
Adams took over in the second set, drilling three kills as part of an 11-8 spurt in a more competitive set. D-B pulled to within 20-17, but kills by Melaina Ankrum and Adams kept the Blackjacks at arm’s length. Bella Martinez ended the set with one of her four kills.
“I was really impressed with our tenacity tonight,” TMB coach Heather Kamrud-Rice said. “We did not let any slump, any run that Dawson-Boyd went on put us on our heels. They stayed light, they stayed positive.”
TMB stormed out to an 11-3 lead to open the decisive Set 3. A D-B timeout did nothing to slow the Panthers’ momentum, as TMB was able to construct a 21-9 lead. Ankrum and Adams struck again with back-to-back kills to put TMB up 23-10, and Ankrum blocked a kill to put TMB at match point. The night ended when D-B served one into the net.
Lanoue said it was nice for the Panthers to get their first home win under their belt.
“It feels good,” she said. “The crowds have been so good, and I’m just glad that we got a win in front of them. We’re playing well right now. Our chemistry is strengthening.”
Kamrud-Rice was proud of the girls for never allowing themselves to get to a point where they doubted they would win a set.
“We were never at a point where we were playing not to lose,” she said. “They were on the attack the whole night. It might’ve slowed down a little bit tonight, but that Dawson-Boyd team has a couple of kids that throw a mean swing at the ball, a smart setter and a big block.”
Adams finished with a season-high 13 kills, and Ankrum had seven. Braelynn Kirk had 18 digs; and Alli Dolan had 13 set assists.
The Panthers (4-5, 1-0 in the Camden) play at KMS tonight (Sept. 17), then return home to take on LQPV on Tuesday.
D-B 11 20 11 TMB 25 25 25 Kills: Adams 13, Ankrum 7, Lanoue 4, Martinez 4, Dolan 2. Set assists: Dolan 13, Ankrum 8, Kirk, Knakmuhs. Service aces: Adams, Ankrum. Digs: Kirk 18, Dolan 8, Knakmuhs 7, Ankrum 3, Adams 2, Lanoue 2, Knott. Blocks: Ankrum 3, Lanoue 2. TMB 2-3 AT SW CHALLENGE
The Panthers went 2-3 at last week’s Southwest Challenge in Marshall. TMB lost to Benilde-St. Margaret’s in two sets in its first match, then defeated Burnsville in two and Sartell in three before two-set losses to Brandon Valley and Northfield.
Allie Adams had a total of 31 kills and 31 digs; Melaina Ankrum collected 19 kills, 34 digs 15 set assists and four ace serves; Alli Dolan had 34 set assists, 25 digs, 11 kills and three aces; Braelynn Kirk had 48 digs and three aces; and Gretchen Lanoue had 12 digs, eight kills, four aces and three blocks. The Panthers served at a 90% clip.
