Panther volleyball team full of experience

Pekin volleyball coach Jordan Mohs is looking forward to having quite a bit of varsity experience this season after having an inexperienced team last season.

“I look forward to seeing how our experience can carry us throughout the season,” said Mohs. “We have a lot of talent on our team. Our challenge will be using that to the best of our ability each and every night.”

The Panthers won’t have a lot of depth this season. The team will travel with nine on the roster, compared to the 14 they had last season. Mohs feels that being able to be a close team and work together will be key to being successful.

Senior Kayse Miller will be returning to the outside for the Panthers. She has been a starting outside all four years of high school and has grown as a player. This year she has taken over a leadership role as well.

Myah Bainbridge, who was second team utility for the team last year is also returning. Coach Mohs is looking for her to continue to have another big season for the team in all areas of the game.

The team will be focusing on replacing two big defensive players that are gone from last season. Says Mohs, “We have to be able to fill those gaps and be successful defensively in order to win matches.”

Pekin’s volleyball team is a group of competitive and hardworking players who are looking forward to their season.

Pekin’s season started off with a tournament at WACO, where they fell to Van Buren County, but had wins against Centerville and WACO.

8/26 Pekin 0, Van Buren 2

Pekin fell in two, 13-21 and 17-21, against Van Buren County at the season-opening WACO tournament on Monday, August 26.

Offensively, Myah Bainbridge had six assists and six kills, and Payten Coleman had two assists. Defensively, Paislee Coleman had six digs and Payten Coleman had four.

Payten Coleman was 8 of 8 serving with two aces. Kayse Miller was 4 of 6 serving, Carlie Gambell went 2 of 4, Myah Bainbridge was 3 of 6 with an ace, Ave Gillam was 2 of 2, and Paislee Coleman was 3 of 5.

8/26 Pekin 2, Centerville 1

The Panthers beat Centerville 2-1 at the WACO tournament, 11-21, 21-19, 15-4.

Myah Bainbridge led the team offensively with eight kills and seven assists. Paislee Coleman and Kayse Miller each had four kills, while Katelynn Schultz and Ava Gillam each has three. In assists, Katelynn Schultz had three, and Payten Coleman and Carlie Gambell each had two.

Payten Coleman led the team in digs with eight. Kayse Miller and Paislee Coleman each had six, Carlie Gambell had four, and Myah Bainbridge had three.

Serving, Paislee Coleman was 15 of 16, Payten Coleman was 7 of 8 with an ace, Kayse Miller was 7 of 9 with an ace, Carlie Gambell went 4 of 5, Myah Bainbridge was 6 of 7, and Ava Gillam went 1 of 2.

8/26 Pekin 2, WACO 1

Pekin won 2-1 over host team WACO at the tournament on Aug. 26, 21-1, 15-21, 15-10.

Myah Bainbridge had nine kills and 10 assists against WACO. Paislee Coleman had five kills and Kayse Miller finished with four.

Payten Coleman had seven digs, while Kayse Miller and Paislee Coleman each had two.

Serving, Myah Bainbridge was 18 of 18 with five aces, Kayse Miller went 12 of 13 with two aces, Payten Coleman was 3 of 4, Carlie Gambell and Ava Gillam each went 4 of 5, and Paislee Coleman was 2 of 4.

9/3 Pekin 3, Keota 1

The Panthers traveled to Keota Tuesday, Sept. 3 where they came away with a 3-1 win (28-26, 30-27, 23-25, 25-17)

Myah Bainbridge had 18 assists and seven kills. Kayse Miller had seven kills, Ava Gillam had five, Paislee Coleman had four, and Katelynn Schultz finished with three.

Payten Coleman 19 digs, Paislee Coleman had 14, Kayse Miller had 11, Carlie Gambell had seven, and Myah Bainbridge had four.

Serving, Ava Gillam was 18 of 18 with three aces, Paislee Coleman was 14 of 16 with 2 aces, Myah Bainbridge went 14 of 16 with an ace, Carlie Gambell was 15 of 15 with two aces, Payten Coleman was 15 of 19 with three aces, and Kayse Miller went 19 of 21 with an ace.

9/5 Pekin 0, Wapello 3

The Panthers faced off against Wapello last Thursday, Sept. 5, where they lost 0-3 (14-25, 21-25, 19-25).

Myah Bainbridge and Katelynn Schultz each had five kills against Wapello, while Bainbridge also had 11 assists. Paislee Coleman and Carlie Gambell each had three kills.

Payten Coleman had 16 digs, Paislee Coleman had seven, and Kayse Miller had six.

Serving, Kayse Miller was 11 of 12 with an ace, Payten Coleman went 6 of 6 with two aces, Carlie Gambell was 9 of 9 with two aces, Myah Bainbridge was 10 of 11, Ava Gillam went 7 of 7 with an ace, and Paislee Coleman was 9 of 11 with an ace.