The Pekin Panthers volleyball team showcased their serving prowess Tuesday night, recording an impressive 16 team aces while defeating visiting Keota 3-1 in a hard-fought match that saw momentum swing between both squads.
The Panthers captured the victory with set scores of 25-22, 21-25, 25-13, and 25-15, bouncing back from a second-set loss to control the final two frames as they moved to 2-5 on the season.
Pekin’s serving game proved to be the decisive factor, with the team achieving an outstanding 85.1% serving efficiency while collecting 16 aces throughout the match. Katelynn Schultz led the serving attack with 5 aces, while Taylor Moore, Paislee Coleman, and Carlie Gambell each contributed 3 aces. Reece Brisby added 2 aces to round out the impressive team performance.
The Panthers’ ability to apply consistent serving pressure helped them regain control after dropping the second set, as they dominated the final two frames by a combined margin of 22 points.
Junior Paislee Coleman anchored the Panthers’ offensive attack with 18 kills, providing consistent power from multiple positions. Reece Brisby contributed 6 kills, while Taylor Moore added 5 kills to give Pekin multiple offensive threats.
Carlie Gambell and Kendra Schultz each chipped in 4 kills, demonstrating the team’s balanced offensive approach. However, the Panthers struggled with consistency at times, recording 26 kill errors as a team that kept several sets closer than necessary.
Gambell proved instrumental in running the Panthers’ offense, distributing 30 assists throughout the 4-set match. Her ability to find multiple attackers helped Pekin maintain offensive pressure even when their primary hitters faced tough defensive schemes.
Defensively, the Coleman sisters led the way in the back row. Payten Coleman anchored the defense with 11 digs, while Paislee Coleman added 8 digs despite her heavy offensive responsibilities. The Panthers recorded 27 total digs as a team, showing solid court coverage throughout the match.
