WOODWARD — A leaky roof may have presaged impending misfortune for the Panorama volleyball team, which was forced to switch what would have been a home tilt against Woodward-Granger to a sudden road trip.
With moisture dripping onto the playing surface in Panora, the teams opted to play Tuesday’s critical WCAC showdown in Woodward.
W-G prevailed, 3-1, to improve to 16-9 overall and 8-1 in WCAC action, keeping alive their hopes of a league championship. Panorama saw their title hopes dashed with the loss, as the Panthers fell to 14-8, 7-2. The team won only seven matches in the 2017 season.
Des Moines Christian sits atop the league standings at 22-6, 9-0. The Lions were 3-0 winners over W-G August 28 and will play at Panorama (conditions permitting) Thursday while W-G visits Van Meter (15-11, 6-3). If Panorama upsets DMC and W-G prevails, the Hawks and Lions would each finish 9-1. The WCAC does not award “shared” titles, allowing both teams, in such a situation, to claim the championship.
W-G was in charge of Tuesday’s match from the outset, claiming wins of 25-11 and 25-12 in each of the first two games. Panorama avoided the sweep with a 25-17 victory in the third game, but W-G responded to post a 25-14 win in the fourth match to claim the match.
Individual statistics from either team were not available.
Panorama will join Colfax-Mingo, East Union, Fort Dodge, Grandview Christian, Roland-Story and South Hardin in returning to Woodward Saturday for the annual Norm McCune Invitational. Play begins at 9 a.m.
