Panthers win SEC game at Keokuk

KEOKUK ? The Mt. Pleasant volleyball team picked its second Southeast Conference road win this week when it defeated Keokuk in four sets last night.

The Panthers narrowly lost the first game, 26-24, but won the next three: 25-19, 25-17 and 25-17.

?The ... team came out a bit slow, making a big hole to climb out of,? Coach Luci Wulfekuhle said. ?It wasn't until about mid-game the Panthers picked up their game, but it was a little too late.?

But that all changed in game two.

?We started to play smarter, picking up on open spots on their side, and utilized our aggressive serves,? Wulfekuhle said.

Both Elinor Krieger-Coble and Ashley Loving had three ace serves in game two.

?By games three and four, all aspects of the Panthers? game came together,? Wulfekuhle said. ?The passes were on, the sets were great, the kills went down and the serves stayed aggressive.?

On the night for the Panthers, Krieger-Coble had 11 kills and went 18-for-18 in serving with eight aces. She also had four total blocks, one solo.

Loving was 11-for-11 in serving with five aces and had 12 assists and 12 digs.

Kelsi Phipps led the team with 12 kills and had three total blocks, one solo.

Taryne Shull had five kills and topped the Panthers with nine blocks, including seven solo blocks.

Lauren Hillman had a team-high 15 assists, and Kathryn Chabal led the team with 15 digs.

Mt. Pleasant is now 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.

They will play in the Wilton Tournament on Saturday.