The Saint Jo Lady Panthers got themselves a little challenge playing in their area round playoff match on Thursday against Perrin-Whitt.
The Lady Panthers won 3-1 against the Lady Pirates as they started the match on not the best note.
Saint Jo came into the match hoping it could recapture its form during its bi-district schedule. The Lady Panthers breezed through district play, never losing a set and rarely were challenged by anyone but their own high expectations.
Saint Jo had gotten a little on track playing a warm-up match against state-ranked Benjamin earlier in the week and winning 3-1. Still, Perrin-Whitt came in and seemed to surprise the Lady Panthers.
It was rematch since the teams opened the season against the other way back on Aug. 12. That match was a one-sided straight sets win from Saint Jo and the team was used to it being that way against the Lady Pirates.
Since then Perrin-Whitt won 22 matches and only lost to state-ranked Garner in its district. This time around four months later, things were different.
The first set was competitive until the Lady Panthers opened up a 14-11 lead. Instead of taking control, it was the Lady Pirates that came back and went on an 8-2 run. Perrin-Whitt led 19-16.
Even with Saint Jo closing the gap to two points 21-19 heading into the end of the set, it was the Lady Pirates that made the plays and feasted on uncharacteristic Lady Panther mistakes. Perrin-Whitt won 25-22 to take set one and the early lead.
While it was a close set, it was not Saint Jo’s best as more than once communication errors that are long ironed out at this point of the season resulted in points as well as hitting errors around the net.
The loss seemed to serve as a wakeup call for the Lady Panthers heading into set two.
Saint Jo took control of the set early thanks to some aggressive serving, good defensive net play and solid ball control. The Lady Panthers went on an 8-2 run to lead 14-6 and led by double-digits at one point 20-10.
Perrin-Whitt played better down the stretch to make the final score respectable, but Saint Jo won with little drama 25-17 to tie the match at 1-1.
That confidence from how it had won set two led into the set three for Saint Jo. The Lady Panthers were up 5-0 early.
The Lady Pirates cut the lead to as close to three points down 9-6, but from there it was all Saint Jo.
The Lady Panthers at one point opened up a double-digit lead 23-12 before eventually winning the set 25-17 again to take the lead in the match 2-1.
Any of the confidence or fire Perrin-Whitt had at the start of the match seemed to be gone heading into set four and Saint Jo was not letting up.
From the start again, the Lady Panthers took a quick 5-0 lead and never looked back.
It was a quick procession to the end of the match as Saint Jo’s lead grey to 17-8 to 21-9 to eventually 25-12.
The Lady Panthers won the match 3-1 to move on to the regional quarterfinals.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the match click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870377&T=1