GUTHRIE CENTER — Panorama prevailed over host AC/GC, 3-1, Thursday in an important WCAC contest, two days after visiting Van Meter surprised the Panthers, 3-1, giving the hosts their first loss in conference action.
With one week left in the regular season, Des Moines Christian leads the WCAC with an 8-0 record. W-G and Panorama are both a game back, at 7-1. The two second-place teams will meet, in Panora, Tuesday, with Panorama hosting DMC Thursday in what could become a conference title-deciding showdown.
Thursday’s win at AC/GC (17-9, 5-3) lifted Panorama to 14-7 overall and 7-1 in WCAC play and kept alive hopes of a league crown for the Panthers. The guests were dominant at the net, with Brooke Halterman and Morgan Johnk each recording 16 kills while the team finished with 10 assisted and two solo blocks.
AC/GC had opened the match with a 25-21 win, but Panorama scraped out a 25-23 set two victory, with another two-point win (26-24) in set three setting the stage for a 25-21 win in the fourth set that secured the match victory.
Van Meter (15-11, 6-3) had spoiled a Pink Out match Tuesday, which the Panthers had used to raised funds for, and draw attention to, the struggle against breast cancer.
The Bulldogs claimed a 26-24 opening set win, then shocked the Panthers with a lopsided, 25-11, win in the second set. Panorama responded with a 25-23 win in set three, but a 25-23 win in set four granted Van Meter the unexpected win.
Halterman finished with 26 kills in the two matches, with Johnk making 23 kills, Olivia Richey 16, Bailey Beckman six and Kennedy Kuta one. Kuta distributed a total of 58 assists and Richey three, with Erica Block, Johnk and Hannah Woodworth one each.
Beckman had 15 combined digs and Halterman 14. Johnk added 10 digs, Richey eight, Woodworth and Block two apiece and Kuta one. Halterman provided six blocks, Johnk and Kuta two each and Block 1.5 rejections.
Kuta served 34-of-38 and five, Johnk 28-31-6 and Richey 23-31-7. Woodworth was 22-25-1 behind the serving line, with Halterman 23-24-1 and Beckman 22-23-2 while Block finished 4-of-4.
After hosting W-G Tuesday and DMC Thursday, the Panthers will travel Saturday to W-G for the annual eight-team Norm McCune Invitational, which will cap the regular season for Panorama.
