The Daviess County Lady Panthers made quick work of the Muhlenberg County Lady Mustangs Tuesday in the 3rd Region Tournament at Grayson County but it now sets up a rematch with a team that handed DC a rare loss this season.
Daviess cruised in the match taking down the 10th District runner-up 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-19).
“A win is a win,” Lady Panther coach Tyla Bailey said after the match. “We’re excited for tomorrow night. We have some small things we need to tweak but I’m pleased with the way the girls came out, they executed when we needed to and we came together. I’m proud of them overall for winning the game.”
DC started strong as several of its standout players earned point for the Panthers in the early going.
Bailey said it’s always important to start a set strong.
“We sometimes have a really bad habit of getting in a hole and while I’m so proud of them for being able to pull out, it gets a little too close for comfort sometimes,” he said. “It’s definitely important this time of year, especially, that they come out strong every single point and tonight, for the most part, they did a good job doing that.”
Muhlenberg County finished in the middle of the pack this season at 7-8 and the Mustangs had an RPI of .506 while the Panthers boasted the second-best RPI in the 3rd Region at .622.
Despite the difference, Bailey said they can’t overlook anyone.
“We know this time of the year, nobody is really safe,” she said. “It’s very important that we play our game. We don’t worry about what the other side is doing so much but we try to control what we can control and that’s what’s happening on our side. That’s been a huge focus, especially tonight and then as we move forward.”
Tuesday’s win now sets up a rematch with Breckinridge County as the Lady Tigers beat DC earlier this season.
“They beat us when we played them at their place,” Bailey said. “We’re using that as motivation to hopefully go out and get a different result … We know what we need to do and it’s going to be a matter of are we going to do it? Which team wants it the most?”
Elizabeth Moore led the way with 10 kills and 15 digs Josie Newcom added nine kills, six digs and two aces. Ryann Keller (23 assists, 2 kills, 2 blocks, 3 digs), Adylan Ayer (4 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs), Kloee Phelps (2 kills, 10 digs, 2 aces), Lexi Owen (7 assists, 6 digs, 2 aces), Jasmine Beasley (3 kills, 2 blocks, 6 digs, 2 aces), Kendal Goetz (19 digs, 5 aces) and Mary Grace Hall (dig) all contributed to the Lady Panthers’ win.
Daviess County and Breckinridge County hit the court at 8 p.m. tonight at Grayson County.
