Lady Panthers Take Home Win in Hwy. 101 Rivalry

September 29, 2022

Junior Aleah Muro, #10, with one of her 3 kills in the match.

After being on the road for their past two matches, and coming off a 3-1 win over the Lost River Lady Raiders Saturday, head coach Vanessa Nidiffer and her Bruin girls varsity volleyball team hosted the Gold Beach Lady Panthers Wednesday evening, adding another chapter in the Hwy. 101 rivalry.

Senior Ashlyn Schofield, #8, with one of her 5 kills.

The Bruin girls looked confident after a strong performance in Saturday’s four set win on the road over Lost Riverm and the Lady Panthers, coming off a win and a loss in the prior weeks matches, came into Bruin arena all business.

Senior Hailey Knedel, #4, and senior Harley Piper and the Lady Panther defense were relentless.

Junior Annika Malmberg, #6, led the Bruin girls with 6 kills.

The first set was everything it was supposed to be, two confident teams battling for bragging rights in a set that kept both teams within a few points of each other, changing leads and fighting for every ball.

Senior Cameron Crosby, #2, with the set to the front line also had 5 digs.

Both teams played well above the net, exchanging kill shots and blocks at the net through out. Both teams were tied at 15-15 just past the midway point of the set and would trade points to the end with the Lady Panthers outlasting the Bruin girls to take the set late.

Freshman Ella Reneau, #3, over the net for the kill shot.

The Bruin girls came out and took a small lead to start the second set, but riding the energy of their first set win, the Lady Panthers would come back to tie it up before taking a second set lead that they would not give up and finish the second set with a two set lead.

Sophomore Madison Harris, #1, led the Bruin girls with 9 digs.

The third set was close early, as the Bruin girls needed a set win to keep the match alive, and every challenge at the net and every dig became much more important as the set advanced. Again, tied at the midway point of the set, the Lady Panthers took a 14-19 lead, and would not let the Bruin girls back into the set, taking the set and the match in three straight sets.

Senior Gabby Clifford, #2, up high over the net to get the kill for the Lady Panthers.

“The girls had moments of greatness,” Bruin girls head coach Vanessa Nidiffer said, “but overall we just had too many hitting errors and couldn’t seem to finish the set. We need to be mentally tougher.”

Junior Brynn Hodges, #7, beating the block.

Both teams have a quick turn-around tomorrow, as the Bruin girls head off to Medford to take on the 3-1 St. Mary’s Crusaders at 6:00pm, and the Lady Panthers will host the 5-2 Bandon Lady Tigers at 6:30pm in Gold Beach.