VOLLEYBALL: Big third set gives PCHS a win in home opener

A full 21 days into their schedule, Pinckneyville finally held their home volleyball opener on Tuesday night in the PCHS auxiliary gym - and it was worth the wait.

The Lady Panthers needed three sets to do it, but dominated the third in their 25-12, 22-25, 25-9 victory over visiting Sparta.

After a convincing win in the first set, Pinckneyville trailed for the majority of the second before rallying back from 22-18 for ties at 22-22 and 23-23, but Sparta managed to close out the set with two straight points.

Unfazed, the Lady Panthers came out and completely owned the third set.

Sophie Keith led PCHS with eight kills, Keeley Grey had six, and Kylee Kling had four. Mady Epplin had a team-high six digs, followed by Keith's four. Gray led service aces with six, and Mayci Doerflein led assists with 17.

Pinckneyville is back on the road this Thursday at Du Quoin.