Fort Scott, KS- Last weekend the Neosho Volleyball team kicked off their 2019 season at the Fort Scott Tournament. They went 3-1 on the weekend defeating Allen Community College, Labette Community College and Seminole State College (OK). The Panthers would fall in their last match of the tournament against the tournament host Fort Scott Community College.

On Friday, the Panthers faced off with two conference opponents, Allen Community College and Labette Community College. During the Allen, the Panthers started slow as they dropped the first set 25-23, but Neosho got back on track and won the next three sets. (25-21, 25-19, 25-19) The Panthers were led offensively by sophomore outside hitter, Savanna Godfrey with 11 kills followed by freshman outside hitter Hanna Mowdy with 9 kills. Meanwhile sophomore setter Jenna DeVore dished out 38 assists in the match. She average 9.5 assists per set. Freshman Libero Michaela Bowers led the Panthers defensively with 17 digs followed by sophomore Sydney Hilliard with 10 digs. 

During the second match on Friday the Panthers faced the Labette Cardinals. Neosho started off strong and never let up in the sweep of the Cardinals. The offense found more of a rhythm in the second match of the day. The Panthers had 40 kills for the match and had a team hitting percentage of .216. The Panthers defense also contributed in the sweep with 9 blocks and 54 digs. Savana Godfrey led all hitters with 12 kills, followed by sophomore right side hitter Ravyn Jobbins with 10 kills. Jenna DeVore averaged 12 assists per set for a total of 36 assists for the match. Michalea Bowers and Sydney Hilliard again led the Panther's defense with 16 digs and 14 digs each. 

On Saturday, Neosho Volleyball took on Seminole State and Fort Scott Community College. Both would be a test for the Panthers in this early season outing. First up the Panthers faced Seminole State. The Panthers defeated the Trojans in their first 5 set match of the season. The Panther's offense struggled in the first set of the match and dropped set 1 to the Trojans 25-21. Neosho would recover and take the next two sets. (25-16, 25-12), but errors proved to be the downfall of the Panthers in set 4 where they lost 25-23 to force a 5th and deciding set. The deciding set was a close one, but the Panthers found a way to finish off the match 15-13. 

Once again the Panther's offfense Savana Godfrey led all hitters with 21 kills, she was followed by Hanna Mowdy with 14 kills. Jenna DeVore had a double-double with 48 assists and 14 digs.

The last match of the weekend was against the other undefeated team of the tournament, Fort Scott Community College. Both teams came out ready to play in set 1 as they went back and forth until a string of errors by the Panthers put the Greyhounds up 5 points. The Panthers were never able to close the gap as they lost set 1, 25-19. Neosho struggled offensively in the second 2 against the Greyhounds and had too many unforced errors. Fort Scott won set two 25-10. The Panthers fought back in set 3, but once again had a string of errors that gave the Greyhounds a led that they never relinquished. The Panthers would fall to the Greyhounds in 3 sets. (19-25, 10-25, 19-25) 

Hanna Mowdy led the Panthers with 8 kills followed by McKenzi Shurley with 5 kills. Jenna DeVore led the Panthers in assists (18), digs (6) and blocks (2). 

The Panthers now 3-1 will travel to Dodge City on Tuesday, where they will take on Pratt Community College and Dodge City Community College in the Dodge City Triad.