Last week, lackluster play from the Panthers resulted in them losing the Battle of the Teal Bubble to McIntosh, 3-0.
This match was a part of “Battle of the Teal Bubble,” a game dedicated to raising awareness for ovarian cancer.
In the first set both teams came out swinging. Trading points early and refusing to let each other get too far ahead. Starr’s Mill junior Holly Harris found open spaces and hit blind spots that McIntosh could not cover.
That momentum kept the Panthers in the first set, but it was not enough to win. The Chiefs took the first set 25-15.
The second set started rocky for Starr’s Mill. The Panthers gave up five points quickly. The team finally got on the board thanks to senior Ember Ness.
“I know that we needed the point,” Ness said. “I’m going to get this point for my team.”
Even with the slow momentum the Panthers had a standout moment when junior Sammie Brady came in and brought new energy to the team. Ness followed with a huge block and Harris scored again to narrow the margin to 17-7. The Chiefs regained momentum and won the second set 25-9.
“We were not playing our game,” head coach Shayne Thompson said. “We were intimidated again, and instead of playing like we know how, we just let them walk all over our games.”
The third set opened with McIntosh taking the first point off a Starr’s Mill error, setting the tone early. The Chiefs kept the pressure high and quickly pulled ahead, forcing the Panthers to fight from behind. Senior Kate Ryan and Brady brought energy back on the court with strong plays that kept Starr’s Mill in the game.
Despite their effort, the Chiefs held onto their momentum, leading 18-11 midway through the set.
“Even if we’re losing by like 10 points or whatever, we have to keep a positive mindset,” junior Annamarie Torqueza.
Since the loss, Starr’s Mill has gone 4-0 and remains undefeated in region play. The Panthers are 22-11 overall so far this season.