VOLLEYBALL: Panthers start season in strong fashion – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

BEND — Understanding how tough the competition will be in the Southwest Conference this season, South Medford volleyball coach Robin Akpan was pleased with what she saw from her squad against some quality opposition at the Mountain View Invite on Friday.

The Panthers finished the round-robin event with a 2-1 record, defeating Thurston (22-25, 25-10, 15-9) and Caldera (25-15, 25-16) before falling short to Sisters (25-22, 25-20) at Mountain View High School.

“We’re at a good starting point for the season,” Akpan said. “I think starting out 2-1 at such a high competition level, I’m impressed with where we’re starting.”

Across three matches, senior outside hitter Katie Clevenger posted 28 kills. Her best effort was in the opener against Class 5A Thurston, as she registered 12 kills and four aces. Fellow senior Cameron Christian added 16 digs and three aces, but her six-point run at the service line in the second set helped permanently shift the momentum in the Panthers’ favor.

“I think out the gate we did have some nerves in the first set against Thurston, but after those passed we really got after it,” Akpan said. “It was fun to see the girls get into system. I thought we had good ball control and defense.”

Lola Horton also came up with five blocks, while setter Baylee Davis contributed 17 assists.

Against Caldera, Clevenger posted eight kills and 11 digs, and Davis was big defensively with 18 digs to go with three aces. Freshmen middle blocker Mayen Akpan chipped in three kills and two blocks and Naomi Johnson added four kills.

The Panthers came up shy in their final match of the night, which was also their toughest test against Sisters. Clevenger finished with eight kills and eight digs, Davis racked up 20 assists while Mayen Akpan went for five kills and three blocks, Johnson pitched in three kills and three aces, while Horton added two blocks and a pair of kills.

“Clevenger was on fire and our setter (Davis) found all of our hitters and our last match of the day was a challenge for us,” coach Akpan said. “Sisters is a strong team and it gave us something to go home and work on. They had a couple strong hitters and we had to adjust to them and it was a little late for the adjustment. But we’ll see them again and we’ll know what to do.”

SOUTH SALEM 3, NORTH MEDFORD 2: North Medford had eighth-ranked South Salem on the ropes, but the Black Tornado wasn’t able to close out the Saxons in a five-set thriller 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 25-27, 10-15 at North Medford High.

North (1-1), coming off a season-opening win over Ashland, led South Salem (1-0) 24-20 in the fourth set before the Saxons — who made the Class 6A quarterfinals last season — were able to rally and take the final two sets.

Tornado senior Maddie Blake finished with 20 assists, while senior Olivia Stubenrauch and freshman Kristina Atonio both had nine kills. Senior libero Amy Kloek recorded 26 digs and Ria Atonio added a team-high three aces for North.

North sophomore middle blocker Nana Silafau had a big match defensively, recording 7 1/2 blocks.

CRATER WINS A PAIR: At Bend, Crater rebounded from a season-opening loss against No. 4-ranked Sheldon and picked up a pair of wins over Burns and host Mountain View to finish 2-1 at the Mountain View Invite.

The Comets (2-1), ranked ninth in the Class 5A preseason coaches poll, played the Irish tough before falling in straight sets, 25-23, 25-9, then rallied to beat the Cougars 23-25, 25-19, 15-12 and the Class 3A Hilanders 25-23, 25-21.

Senior outside hitter Kendra Bittle led the Comets in kills in all three matches, finishing with 28 on the day. Fellow senior outside hitter Maddie Consina added 11 kills, while senior setter Kate Stidham racked up 47 assists combined in the three matches.

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