MINERSVILLE – Most teams are lucky enough to have one star on the roster.

While Panther Valley certainly doesn’t have a star player, instead it has an entire constellation.

In the Schuylkill League semifinals on Wednesday night at Minersville, every single Panther proved that she could be a star on pretty much any team in the galaxy. And indeed, the stars did align during a thrilling sweep of undefeated Nativity, 25-23, 27-25 and 25-20.

With the win, the Panthers are headed to the Schuylkill League Championship game against Pottsville tonight at Martz Hall.

“We knew they hustle and we would have to step up to the plate,” said Panther Valley head coach Nancy Filer. “We were here before and we left sad, so we aren’t going to leave sad this time. I’m positive that they really want it.”

The drama started right at the initial whistle, as the opening set featured eight ties, and the largest lead at any moment was just three points. PV was able to claw its way to a 25-23 win to take command.

“Amazing,” said Filer. “Every girl out there came through at a crucial point. They’re playing well as a team, and I’m excited.”

You never know which Panther is going to come swinging, which is a nightmare for opposing defenses. But on Wednesday night, it was all of them.

Olivia Dacey had a monster game with many timely kills. She displayed both power and finesse shots, and led PV with 14 kills; six of which came in the pivotal second set.

“It was one of the craziest games we ever played,” Dacey said. “Nativity came in undefeated and we had one loss coming in. We knew it would be a tough game, and we just wanted to focus on our own side and play our own game.”

If it wasn’t Dacey, it could have been Jenna Dubosky, who had 13 kills.

Or maybe Jenna Dubosky was setting up her sister Erika Dubosky for one of her 13 kills. And just when you thought you knew where the attack was coming from next, Rachelle Filer would come up with one of her 11 kills.

The Panthers would need every bit of that firepower in set No. 2.

Nativity had a lead as much as six late in the set, but PV responded when Rachelle Filer ripped off five-straight service points to bring the Panthers right back. Eventually, Dacey had a clutch smash to even the set at 24 apiece, and then Jenna Dubosky’s ace to win the set at 27-25 deflated Nativity.

The final set was close at times, but it seemed from the beginning that the Panthers would not be denied.

“They don’t go away easy, which is good,” said the PV coach with a smile. “They like the court and they like playing. They have love for the game, so everything else follows.”

YA DIG … PV’s Emilee Kwaak had a nice game defensively with 13 digs.

TAKE THIS … Sarah Zabroski gave out 34 assists for the Panthers. Additionally, all of her six service points came in the closing set.

HELP ON THE WAY … Sophomore librero Alexis Cooper came in late during the match in critical sequences and did some nice things for Filer’s team. “She’s young,” Filer said. “She’s a sophomore and I Just said, ‘oh you have the hardest job, because I throw you in big situations.’ But she comes through.”