Wichita, KS – On Friday August 24, Neosho headed to Wichita to compete in the Wichita Sports Forum Kickoff Volleyball Tournament, where they competed against several Top 20 teams. The first match of the tournament was against KJCCC conference opponent #1 Coffeyville. The Panthers lost to the defending national champions in three sets. 23-25, 19-25, 18-25. Neosho was led in kills by sophomores Ryann Flax and Chandler Karr, who both had 8 kills each. Sophomore Sophia Padgett and freshman Jenna DeVore both had 15 assists apiece. Karr also led the Panthers defensively with 9 digs.

On Saturday, the Panthers took on MCC-Longview and #3 Lincoln Land. Neosho dropped the first match of the day to MCC-Longview in 4 sets. (19-25, 27-25, 14-25, 20-25) Errors proved to be costly for Neosho in the match. The Panthers had 9 serve receive errors and committed 23 hitting errors in the match. Chandler Karr was the bright spot in the match for Neosho. She led the Panthers with 12 kills, 2 aces, 2 solo blocks and 9 digs. Freshman and Chanute native Keeley Tallent and sophomore Kayla Maples led all Panthers defensively with 14 digs each.  Freshman setter Jenna DeVore led in assists with 25 for the match.

Next, Neosho played #3 Lincoln Land. Neosho comes back from a two set deficit to win in 5 sets. (19-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-14, 15-12) The Panthers got off to a slow start, but fought back and won the next 3 sets. Sophomores Chandler Karr and Deidra Sellers led the Neosho with 13 and 12 kills respectively. Freshman Jenna DeVore dished out 27 assists and freshman Daisy Retana led with 23 digs.

The Panthers will be at home on Wednesday August 29 for their first KJCCC Conference game against Johnson County Community College at 6:30pm.