Lady Panthers capture GVVC volleyball crown

The 2019-20 GVVC champion Sheldon Lady Panther volleyball team, pictured front row from left: Hailey Hibbetts, Brooklynn O' Connor, Madsyon Bogart, Meckinize McCartney, Mahalia Swink, and Nici Hites. Back row, l-r: Leah Byram, Sabrina Boyle, Kimberleigh Colbert, Deborah Lamb, head coach Emily Godsey, Tori McClure, Madison Garren, and Destiny Brokob.

Photos by Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

Bronaugh — The Sheldon Lady Panthers flexed their muscle, powering past the Northeast Vernon County Lady Knights in the Golden Valley Vernon County (GVVC) volleyball tournament championship match on Saturday.

To get to the championship match Sheldon first dispatched Ballard in two sets, and then split a two-set match with Miami. NEVC's path to the title match included a two-set defeat of host Bronaugh, and a split with the Hume Lady Hornets.

In the championship clash Sheldon came out strong, breezing to a 25-12 first-set win.

On the strength of Charity Middleton's superb serving, NEVC jumped out to a 9-3 second-set advantage. The lead quickly evaporated, as Sheldon senior Madyson Bogart engineered an 8-0 run from the serving line.

A seesaw battle ensued. After regaining the lead, NEVC closed out the set on a 9-3 run, and evened the match with a 25-18 second-set triumph. The decisive point came via Moriah Ashby's ace.

NEVC held a 4-3 lead early in the third set, but relinquished it — with Bogart serving. Bogart, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, seemed to be the Lady Knights' kryptonite, as they struggled to contain her serving — as well as her play on the front-line.

With Bogart back serving, Sheldon reeled off six quick points, seizing a 9-4 lead. The Lady Panthers increased their advantage to nine points courtesy of Hites' front-row assist to Mahalia Sink for the kill — followed by Hailey Hibbits' ace .

With Hites serving, Sheldon's advantage swelled to 19-7. Sheldon continued to dominate from the serving line, as back-to-back Meckinizie McCartney aces gave the Lady Panthers a 14-point cushion.

A soft-tap on the front row by Hites put Sheldon on the brink of a conference championship. Fittingly, Bogart put the match on ice with a front-row kill — securing a 25-9 third-set victory, as well as first-place hardware.

Sheldon head coach Emily Godsey said she was not surprised in the least that her squad was able to regain its momentum after dropping the second set.

"It really helps that I have six seniors, and this is the big hoorah (for them)," she said. "They knew that they were going to have to take everything that they've learned, buckle down, and kick it into gear. And, they absolutely did."

Said Godsey of Bogart's MVP-like performance: "Her play was phenomenal. She was completely on today. She's good at reading the players — so if they're struggling, then she goes after them. Her serves are very consistent."

Summed up Godsey: "It means so much to me, for them to see the fruits of their hard work."

First-year NEVC head coach Kacie Logan said she was proud of her team's performance.

GVVC tournament runner-up Northeast Vernon County Lady Knights, front row from left: Emma Bruce, Moriah Ashby, and Dannica Davis. Back row, l-r: Head coach Kacie Logan, Charity Middleton, Avery Minor, Eden Coleman, Lydia Longstreth, Kylie Alexander, and assistant coach Kelcie Rapp.

Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

"I think we did a good job overall," she said. "We have a tough time staying consistent throughout a whole game."

NEVC's roster is comprised of three juniors, two sophomores, and a quartet of freshmen.

"We're a very young, inexperienced team," Logan noted. "We don't have a lot of tournament experience. This is a great group, and they can only get better."

In the third-place contest Bronaugh prevailed over Miami in a three-set thriller — 26-28, 25-17, 25-19. In the fifth-place game, Hume defeated Ballard (25,14, 25-21).