High 5! Panthers knock off Keokuk

KEOKUK — After starting Southeast Conference play 0-2, Mt. Pleasant is now back at .500 after a second-straight five-set win.

The Panthers came back from a 2-1 deficit to take an SEC game from Keokuk, winning it 17-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 15-5. This comes one week after a five-set home win over Washington.

Mt. Pleasant had to bounce back after a disaster end to the third set. The Panthers blew a 24-20 lead as Keokuk scored the next six to take a 2-1 lead in sets.

Mt. Pleasant was in a similar spot in the fourth set. The Panthers led 24-21, and Keokuk scored the next two. Up 24-23, Keokuk returned a Jacara Ivey kill attempt back over the net, but it landed out of bounds.

Mt. Pleasant never looked back. The Panthers led the Chiefs 7-1 in the fifth set, then 10-3.

Keokuk came back to cut the Mt. Pleasant lead to five points. The Panthers held a 10-5 lead, but then scored the next five. On the final point, the Chiefs returned an Andrea Lopreato serve to the top of the net, but Addison Clark leapt up and sent it down for the game-winner.

The Panthers are now 5-18 overall and 2-2 in the conference. They will host Fort Madison (1-11, 1-3) next Tuesday.