Sports
Ace Nation: Panthers defeat Lancers in five-set thriller
By: Gabbie Weil
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WELLSTON, Ohio (WOUB) — The Federal Hocking Lancers took on the Southeastern Panthers on Tuesday in the District Semi-Final. Southeastern outlasted Federal Hocking and won the match in five-sets.
The first set started out strong for the Lancers with an immediate kill from outside Juniper Ballew, but the Panthers didn’t stay down long ending a four-point service run with a strong block from junior Rowan Ruckel. As the set went on, Federal Hocking tried their hardest to keep up with multiple kills from middle hitters Karlee Grimm and Megan Reichhardt. The set stayed close down until the final moments, but the Panthers played scrappy and took the first set 25 to 23 with a kill from junior Ava Carrico.
Going into the second set the Lancers were ready to redeem themselves. They started the set with a six-point service run causing Southeastern to call their first timeout of the set. Coming from the timeout, the Panthers scored their first point of the set with a kill from junior Reese Ruckel, but the Lancers did not stay down long, scoring more points left and right. Toward the end of the set the Panthers called their final timeout in hopes of gaining some confidence to catch up to the Lancers. They were able to use that timeout to bounce back by going on a five-point service run with three kills and a block from Ruckel. Although they played hard, they could not catch up with Federal Hocking, giving them the set 25 to 19.
Moving into the third set, both teams were hungry for a win. The set was close in the beginning, but the Lancers turned on the heat by going on multiple service runs with multiple aces from Grimm and Brenlee Cottrill. The Panthers fought hard to keep up with Federal Hocking with some good blocks and kills from senior Kyra Francis but ultimately could not keep up giving the third set to Federal Hocking 25 to 11.
The fourth set had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The Panthers were ready to redeem themselves by starting the set with an immediate five-point service run. While the Lancers were able to score a few points, they were unable to keep up with the Panthers. Southeastern was on fire causing Federal Hocking to call their first timeout. The timeout helped the Lancers gain some momentum as they started catching up to Southeastern forcing them to call their first timeout. While the set stayed close, the Panthers were able to make their comeback, taking the fourth set 25 to 20.
Going into the fifth and final set, both the Lancers and the Panthers were desperate to finish the match with the win. In the beginning it stayed neck and neck but eventually Southeastern gained some momentum, allowing them to stay ahead of Federal Hocking. Panthers senior Jozy Lougheed had three back-to-back aces while Lancers Olivia Tabler had multiple kills throughout the second half of the set. Federal Hocking called a timeout hoping to hear what they needed to make their comeback, but it was unsuccessful allowing the Panthers to take the last set fifteen to eight.
Although Federal Hocking did not take the win, Head Coach Ryan Grimm had many kind things to say about his team when asked what he was most proud of this season.
“The heart and the grit,” Grimm says, “The memories I have from this season are priceless.”
The Federal Hocking Lancers finished out their season fifteen and nine. The Southeastern Panthers will take on South Webster at Wellston High School in the District Final on Saturday.