Highland, KS – Neosho would battle it out with the Scotties of Highland Community College in the district championship match.  The Panthers were able to come away with the match with set scores of 20-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-22, 15-9.  The Panthers would start out hot with a 6-1 lead to start the set.  The Scotties would then go on a 6-0 run taking the lead before the Panthers would call a timeout.  The Scotties would have the lead at 23-19 and would come away with set one 25-20.  In set two again the Panthers would start with a 10-5 lead before the Scotties would call a timeout.  The Scotties would pull within two at 12-10 but the Panthers would answer with two more to make it 14-10.  Neosho would have a 21-15 lead before the Scotties would call their final timeout for the set.  Three errors by the Panthers would let the Scotties creep in at 22-24 before a block by Hannah Brisco and Samantha Johnson would end set two for the Panthers 25-22.  Set three would start with the Scotties on top before the Panthers were able to tie it up and take the lead at 10-8.  The Scotties would then take the lead and keep it for the rest of set three.  Highland would take set three 25-16.  The fourth set would be close again tied up at 14-14.  The Panthers would take the lead and pull ahead 21-19 before the Scotties would call a timeout.  The Scotties would then tie it up at 22-22 but a kill by Jolene Tidwell would give the Panthers a one point lead.  A Scottie error and then kill by Riley Kallevig would end set four 25-23.  This would take the Panthers and the Scotties to a winner take all fifth set.  Set five would start point for point and be tied up at 4-4.  The Panthers were finally able to pull away with a three point lead at 8-5.  The Panthers were able to put everything together with their defense and offense working together to end set five 15-9. 
 
The Panthers offense was led by freshman middle McKinley Pruitt and freshman right side Hannah Brisco with 15 kills each.  Freshman setter Rylee Moseman also recorded 54 assist on the match which was a season and career high for her.  Defense for the Panthers was led by freshman libero Brooklyn Strobel with a season and career high of 34 digs followed by sophomore defensive specialist Nyah Alexander with 24 digs which would also be a career high for her. Freshman defensive specialist Kinley Poynter also added 8 digs for the Panthers.
 
The victory over Highland to win the District championship was historic. This is the first time in Neosho Volleyball program history that they have won Districts and qualified for the NJCAA DII Volleyball Championship Tournament. The tournament will be held April 13-15 in Cedar Rapids, IA.