Chanute, KS- Neosho County Community College and Kansas City Kanas Community College volleyball teams went back-and-forth the entire match Wednesday evening. Down 13-11, the No. 18-ranked Panthers dug deep, scoring the final four points in the match to secure a 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-8, 19-25, 15-13) victory over the visiting Blue Devils. "It was a very interesting game," Coach Asya Herron said. "Their coach did a good job of moving their lineup around, and we matched up very well when they had their setter up and Maryssa up with her. For some reason, when (Joanna) was up with them, we didn't match up well. They dug up everything we swung at, and we are happy to come away with that." In the first set, neither team could put together a run and pull away. KCK's 8-5 advantage was the largest either team could grab until the Panthers strung a run together late in the set. Freshman outside hitter Ryed Creek broke the 17-17 tie, and the Panthers seven of the next 11 points to take the opening set. In the second set, the Blue Devils responded by racing out to a 3-1 lead and never trailing to tie the set match at one set a piece.In the third set, it was all Neosho County. Sophomore Joanna Riggs' kill put the Panthers in front 1-0 as Neosho County rolled to a 17-point set three win. In the fourth set, the Panthers jumped out to a 4-2 advantage behind a two kills from sophomore Maryssa Recio. It was a lead which Neosho County until KCK took the lead 14-13. The Blue Devils forced a fifth set with a 9-4 spurt. In the deciding set, KCK looked to pull off the road victory, taking an 8-5 lead following an ace serve.When the teams flipped sides, it flipped the fortunes of the Panthers. Back-to-back attack errors on KCK tied the set at 11 apiece, but the Blue Devils scored the next two points. However, the Panthers weren't done. "We played great defense at times," Herron said. "I think that was really the difference more than them making several errors in a row." Recio's kill sparked a 4-0 run to close out Neosho County's 26th win of the season. "They are a good team," Herron said of KCK. "Most of their losses are against top 20 teams so they aren't playing a slouchy schedule."

The Panthers (26-11 overall and 5-3 in the KJCCC East) wraps up the regular season at home Monday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 pm on Sophomore Night against the Independence Lady Pirates (9-25 and 1-7).

"One of our goals this season was to be undefeated at home in conference play, and so far we've done that," Herron concluded. "We are hoping to finish off conference schedule strong and then wait to see where we are seeded at for the District tournament."