Oakwood Lady Panthers bounce back

Mary Rantala (#7), and Felicia Williams (#10) are ready to back up teammate Lisa Stevens as she pops the ball back over the net. Photo by Melissa Missildine The Oakwood Lady Panthers Varsity volleyball team fought hard and won against the 3A Westwood Lady Panthers on Tuesday. After losing to Westwood in their first pre-season game, it made bouncing back with the win on their first official game even sweeter.

The Oakwood Lady Panthers lost the first set to the Westwood Lady Panthers at 15-25 but, won the second set with a score of 25-13 and then captured the next set at 25-15. The fourth set was a bitter battle. The volleys seemed to go on forever and frustrations were getting the better of both teams. It ended with Westwood at 31 and Oakwood at 29. The crowd was on the edge of their seats for last set. The Oakwood Lady Panthers squeezed out the Westwood Lady Panthers with a 15- 13 win.

Senior Lisa Stevens and sophomore Christina Hudson dominated the floor. Stevens came up with 14 assists, 2 kills, and 4 service aces but, truly rocked it out with an additional 33 service and inactive points. Hudson killed it with 4 assists, 8 kills, 4 blocks, and 7 service aces. She also gave her team 33 service and inactive points. Felicia Williams, a junior, stepped up with 2 assists, 8 kills, 1 block, and 1 service ace with 7 service and inactive points while Ava Moore put in a whopping 18 assists. Moore also had 1 service ace and 5 service and inactive points. Senior Mary Rantala backed up her team with 2 assists, 3 service aces, and 13 service and inactive points. Jocelyn Williams, senior, had the high score in assists for the team with a grand total of 25. She made a good showing with 1 dig, 1 block, 2 service aces, and 14 service and inactive points too. Senior Melanie Minter popped out 10 service and inactive points along with 2 digs. Junior Nakethia Crenshaw rounded out the night with 1 dig and 5 service and inactive points.

Head Coach Stephanie Lucio said she couldn't have been more proud of these girls. Lucio says she has high hopes for them, "If these girls continue to work together as a team like they did tonight, we could go to State."