LEWISBURG — Tri-County North volleyball played three matches in three consecutive days, including hosting rival Twin Valley South.
The Panthers fell in all three contests on the week, losing to Arcanum and Mississinawa Valley before dropping their match-up against the cross-town rival.
North started out the week traveling to Arcanum on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and losing in straight sets. The Panthers also started out the week shorthanded, playing without one of their starters.
By the end of the night, North began to adjust to the lineup change, but it was too little, too late.
“The third set we served better to shake up their serve receive, but in the end had serve receive and hitting errors of our own,” said TCN head coach Sarah Collins.
Allee Demorest led the team with five kills and nine digs while Macey Dennison added 14 digs and two kills and Trinity Hemmerich had 11 assists.
Next on the docket was Mississinawa Valley. North lost to the Blackhawks in straight sets as well (9-25, 13-25, 21-25).
“Our communication was lacking right from the start, and the team struggles to dig themselves out when we get down,” said Collins. “Mississinawa Valley showed up to play. Our hitting errors and serving errors unfortunately gave them too many points and we could not overcome that. If we can contain our hitting errors and improve our serve receive, we will get more wins.”
Demorest led the way once again for North, logging seven kills again, 11 digs and one ace. Dennison added four aces, 11 digs and one kill while Hemmerich dished out 10 assists and five digs.
North closed out the week against Twin Valley South on Thursday, Sept. 17.
TCN eventually lost the match but not before getting off to a strong start with a 25-22 win.
“The girls played great and had a lot of intensity,” said Collins.
But they were unable to sustain that moment, losing sets two, three, and four (25-10, 25-10, 25-12).
“We could not stop Abby Beneke, as she was hitting the ball well. My hats off to TVS, they came back with a lot of desire to win,” said Collins. “I love this rivalry between the two schools, its always fun and intense.”
Dennison had 17 digs, two kills and two aces on the night while Demorest pitched in 10 digs, and six kills. Gracie Douglas served well for North, adding four aces and two kills. Hemmerich had 14 assists and 14 digs.
North will host another in-county rival this week, traveling to National Trail on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Madison on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. The Panthers also travel to Miami East on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m.
