Panthers sweep Chiefs in first round of 4A tournament

BY ANDY KRUTSINGER

Mt. Pleasant News

The Mt. Pleasant volleyball team cruised through their first regional tournament game of 2015 on Monday night. The Panthers started out hot and kept the pressure on Keokuk all night, leading to a sweep, 25-10, 25-17 and 25-10.

The first game set the pace for the contest. Mt. Pleasant came out firing on all cylinders en route to a 15-1 start. Abbie Liechty served for most of the run, stepping in on the second point and taking the Panthers to a double-digit lead.

Julie Lasswell sprinkled in a couple of kills and Asiah Zaragoza had a big block during the run. The Chiefs played tight with Mt. Pleasant throughout the rest of the set, but the damage had already been done in the 25-10 win.

?They came out to play today,? said head coach Dave Streeter about the fast start. ?They passed the ball well, and that led to our offense and keeping Keokuk out of their offense, which is a huge part of what we need to do.?

The run slowed a bit in the second set, and Keokuk stayed with the Panthers during the first half of the match. The Chiefs had the score at 16-13 late, but a serve streak by Lasswell helped the Panthers pull away, and with the score at 24-17, Danielle Coffin ended it with a spike.

After the minor scare in the second set, Mt. Pleasant exploded again in the third. The Panthers scored the first seven points of the third set, and didn?t allow Keokuk to get back into the game. A net violation by the Chiefs ended the third set at 25-10 Mt. Pleasant, and the Panthers moved on to the next round.

Coffin finished with six kills to lead the team. Lasswell and Liechty had four kills apiece, and Ashlee Menke finished as the assist leader, with 17.

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Ft. Madison on Thursday, Oct. 29, for the second round. The Bloodhounds, who were in attendance to watch the first round game, have won each of the first three matchups between the two teams this season.

?Going into regionals, everyone is even again,? said Coach Streeter about the tournament. ?We?ll come to play, and we?ll give them a run for their money.?