The Permian volleyball team was looking to rebound from a loss earlier in the week when it hosted San Angelo Central Friday.
The Lady Panthers responded with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-20, victory against the Lady Cats at the Permian Fieldhouse.
Permian improved to 19-8 overall, 2-1 in District 2-6A, while San Angelo Central dropped to 25-12, 1-2.
The game plan was simple according to Panthers coach Robert Wills. “Play solid volleyball all around,” Wills said.
“(Central) is big. They can jump. They can hit. They are athletic. We just need to play consistently.”
Offensive hitter Jade Workman, the Lady Panthers’ leader, was on her ‘A’ game against the Lady Cats with several key kills along with a solid passing game.
“They are an amazing team and they hustled for everything,” Workman said. “I think it was just the fact that we played as a team and fought as a team.”
Workman, however, did not take all the credit for her kills.
“I have to thank my setter, Layny Brown,” Workman said. “She gave me the most beautiful sets ever, which gave me the ability to kill the ball.”
Brown said her teammates behind her deserve accolades as well.
“The back row passes were really good today, and that helped a lot” Brown said.
The Lady Panthers controlled the match after the first set.
The team’s largest deficit was an early 5-2 hole.
From that point, the team also trailed at 11-10 in the same set, but rarely lost hold of the lead and momentum behind a raucous home environment.
“The home crowd is great,” Brown said. “We had a really good turnout tonight and I think it helps a lot.”
Even though the Lady Panthers won in convincing fashion, their largest advantage was a sole seven-point, first-set cushion at 20-13, following an ace by Workman.
The teams exchanged leads six times early in the second set, with sixteen ties, but the Lady Cats committed consecutive errors to lose that second set, 26-24.
“All three sets were very close,” Wills said. “Each set turned on one or two points and I liked our muscle. Central played well. We were fortunate to come out with the win.”
Workman agreed with her head coach’s sentiment.
“I think we did a really great job – we played as a team together the whole time,” Workman said. “That’s really what it’s all about.”
The Lady Panthers are 6-1 at home this season and have won six of their last seven matches and eight of their last 10.
“I feel like, this year, Permian has had a really good season, and hopefully, we can just keep on beating better teams,” Brown said.
The team has high hopes of earning the district title, especially after the recent play.
“I feel like we can go the rest of the season winning all of our games,” Workman said. “Honestly, if we keep playing like we did today, we can beat anyone in our district.”
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