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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

PELHAM – After a wild four-set match against the Chelsea Hornets to kick off area play two days prior, the Pelham Panthers went the distance with the Spain Park Jaguars to improve to 2-0 in area play.

Pelham defeated Spain Park 3-2 on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Pelham High School to claim sole possession of first place in Class 6A, Area 8 through two matches.

While the Panthers came in to the match off a big win over Chelsea, the Jags had momentum heading into their second area match as well after sweeping Helena on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

That set up another high-profile county battle with the winning taking command of the area standings.

Pelham started out the match in front and used its early lead to grab the win in the first set.

With the 25-15 victory, the Panthers took the 1-0 lead in the match and sent an early statement to Spain Park.

The Jags responded by making the second set a tight battle, and with the teams barely separated by a couple of points down the stretch, it was anyone’s for the taking.

Ultimately, Spain Park took the set 25-22, tying up the match and forcing Pelham to respond.

The pendulum of momentum swung back in the Panthers favor as they took another large lead in the third set and saw it out for the win.

Pelham took the third set 25-16 to get within one set of winning the match.

The Jags, however, had different plans. The fourth set was a tight affair just like the second, and the Panthers came very close to sealing the match victory.

Spain Park held strong on set point and won 25-23 to force a fifth and final set to decide the match winner.

Pelham saved some of its best volleyball for last and went on another run to pull away for the victory.

The Panthers went on to take the fifth set 15-6, which sealed the 3-2 victory.

For the Panthers, Camryn McMinn earned 27 kills and 17 digs, Londyn Wynn secured 16 kills and two aces and Kylee Hester had 48 assists and 16 digs.

Kamryn Rouveyrol and Juliana Bitas had four aces apiece, and Rouveyrol also had a team-high 22 digs. Aubrie Smith also earned six kills and three total blocks.

Pelham will be in tournament action over the weekend at Northridge High School on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Spain Park will now head north to the River City Rumble in Chattanooga, Tennessee from Sept. 13-14.