Serving up a win

ROCKFORD - After dropping their final two matches of the season, Parkway looked to start fresh as the Division III volleyball season postseason got underway with a home match with Delphos Jefferson.

The Panthers were tuned in right away and came away with a 25-17, 25-15, 25-15 over the Wildcats at Panther Gymnasium.

The win allows Parkway (12-10) to advance to face Bluffton at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Hermiller Gymnasium in Ottawa. The Pirates defeated Van Buren in four sets.

"We have four sophomores playing, many playing for the first time on the tournament floor," said Parkway coach Jordan Henkle. "Didn't think we played as well as we could have, but consistency to keep making plays was good."

Jefferson gave Parkway a battle in every set, but the Panthers found a spot each time to either turn a deficit or tie into a lead or expand. In the first set, it came with Parkway holding a 13-11 lead with Emiree Knittle going back to serve. The sophomore served up four straight points to push the Panther lead to 17-11. Jefferson managed to get back to within five, but Parkway closed out the set with a kill by Macy Johnson.

The Wildcats led 4-1 early in the second set before the Panthers came back to tie at 4- and 5-all before Kelsey Nichols went back to serve. The senior served up five straight points to make it a 10-5 set. Later Gracyn Temple served up four in a row to raise the margin to 15-8 and then closed out the set with four straight points, the final coming on an ace.

The beginning of the third set was tight again with seven ties up to 9-all before Knittle went back to serve. Knittle served up two aces as part of a six-point run to put Parkway in front 14-9. Later, Nichols served up three aces during a seven-point run that got the Panthers to match point at 24-14. The Wildcats got a point, but served it into the net to close out the match.

"There were times where our server put more pressure on (Jefferson)," said Henkle. "That made them move a little on serve receive. Then that opens up everything for your hitters."

Johnson had 13 kills for Parkway with Temple, Gabrielle Stober and Faith Jacobs each recording seven kills. Stober had 19 assists.