By Wyatt Fleischer, sports editor

On August 17 the Lady Panthers took to the gym at 6 p.m. to begin the season. The newly polished floors reflected the ceiling’s every detail. “One last time,” said senior Maile Chang.

With the loss of all-state hitter Kenzie Garris and other key players, there were some shoes to fill. The upperclassmen stepped up and took the reins of the 2015 season.  The Panthers were playing the Meadville Bulldogs when shining sophomore Haley Hess was stepped on under the net. The event resulted in a sprained ankle and missing six games. A week later senior Becca Siple was removed from the starting line up with cellulitis in the left knee. Siple returned to the Panthers line up and scored a well needed eleven kills against the Union City Bears.

With all of the injuries, the Panther’s starter Kendra Taylor had to take a bigger leadership role. Taylor brought momentum to the court when the energy was needed. And sophomore Payton Brooks stepped up to replace the injured Hess. Brooks brought heighth and grit to their side of the court.

Seniors Maile Chang, Lauren Posego, and Haley Wise are doing damage in all aspects of the game. Posego has been a steady force with an average of eleven kills a game. Chang has been dishing out an average of 22 assists a game. Wise has been showing the younger players great defense with an average of 7 digs a game.

The ladies have new coaches this year with Justin Johnson as head coach and Tim Houck as assistant, and with these changes, the girls’ rotation has been flipped and flopped many times. After hitting the halfway point of the season, though,  the rotation seems to be clicking. Senior night was held on Oct. 22 against the Maplewood Tigers, and the girls will be in action again on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Youngsville.