Quicksand.

In the sports world, that translates to nothing going right, and no matter how hard a team tries to turn things around, it just continues to sink.

On Thursday, in the District 11 Class 2A volleyball semis against Allentown Central Catholic, Panther Valley got itself in some quicksand, and at the end of four games looked to be in over its head.

After getting out to a 2-0 lead, the Panthers then surrendered the next two to the Vikettes.

With momentum on Central Catholic’s side, it was evident that PV was falling below the surface. But as this season’s Panthers’ squad has done time-and-time again, they found a way to dig and claw themselves out.

Panther Valley defeated the Vikettes 15-12 in the fifth and final game to advance to the District 11 2A championship for the fifth consecutive season.

Early on, it looked as if the Panthers (14-4) were going to shock the Vikettes (6-7) and take this one in three, getting out to a 2-0 lead.

PV trailed by four (14-10) midway through the opening game, but battled back to take a 17-16 lead before winning the first game 25-19. It followed that up with a 25-18 victory in the second game.

“In that first set, we were down at one point and I called timeout and told the girls they were just out swinging us, and we were just settling and playing defensively,” said Panther Valley head coach Emilie Baker. “After that, something clicked, they stopped playing passive and were aggressive - those two games were probably the best these girls connected all season long.”

A perennial power in District 11, Central Catholic moved down to 2A from 3A this season and showed its postseason experience after falling behind 2-0

The Vikettes went on the attack, led by ferocious outside hitter Monica Vargo, who had 13 kills over the next two games as Central pulled out 25-22, 25-23 victories to even the match.

A crushing fourth-game loss for the Panthers, who were tied 23-23 late, looked to give Central Catholic total momentum and control of the match heading into the fifth.

“Our girls didn’t give up, and they played their game and we got back into it,” said Central Catholic head coach Laurie Corcoran. “We got Monica going there for us. She transitioned from a setter to an outside hitter and has done a nice job. But credit to PV in a hard-fought match.”

In the fifth game, the Panthers turned to hitters Erika Dubosky and Natalie White. White helped break a 5-5 tie midway through the game with a kill down the left side, and Dubosky came through with four kills down the stretch to help PV close it.

The gritty win epitomizes this season’s Panthers’ squad, which lost a ton of talent from last season’s district championship team.

“I think our seniors realized that ‘this is it’ if we didn’t pull it out in the fifth set, and they went to work,” said Baker. “I can’t say enough about this team and how hard they play.

“Offensively, you’re never going to replace what we lost last season with two All-State players, but this team just goes out there and works hard and plays together, and they’re headed to another district championship because of that.”

LEADERS ... Dubosky led the way with 16 kills and added 10 assists and four aces. White was big offensively, adding nine kills and Alexis Cooper was tough on the back line with an impressive 37 digs.

NEXT UP ... No. 1 seed PV will take on No. 2 seed Pine Grove at a day and site to be determined for the championship.

DRIVE FOR FIVE ... The Panthers will be looking to win their fifth straight District 11 2A championship.