POTTSVILLE - The tide was turning and momentum was shifting in Tuesday’s Schuylkill League volleyball semifinal.

Panther Valley pulled itself even with Nativity, winning a gritty fourth game to bring the match level at 2-2.

But the Green Wave were able to stem the tide in the decisive fifth game, creating a groundswell of their own to secure the match and a spot in the finals with a 22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11 victory over the Panthers at Martz Hall.

“They’re aggressive, and that’s like a lot of teams in Division 3 that they’re in,” Nativity coach Jennifer Daubert said of Panther Valley. “They stay aggressive, they take swings from everywhere on the floor, and they’re not fazed by the moment at all. They have a good coaching staff, who make adjustments, both from previous times that you play them, and also in game adjustments to be able to take things away.

“They’re also very scrappy, and they fight for every point, and they’re going to get every point back. So we have to try to match that intensity, and we have to try to come back and have to try to do the same thing on our side. It’s good, competitive Schuylkill League volleyball, and I’m just proud to be representing the Schuylkill League right now.”

The third-seeded Green Wave (17-3, 13-0 Division 2) weathered the storm after the Panthers tied the match at 2-2.

Four straight points for No. 2 Panther Valley (16-3, 12-1 Division 3) knotted the fifth game at 8-8 with an ace from Morgan Orsulak, who dished out 29 assists, came up with 16 digs and produced four blocks.

But Nativity responded with a run of three points, which included two kills by Emma Bolich to make it 11-8.

The Panthers would get within two as late as 13-11 after a kill from Natalie Vermillion, who finished with 22 kills and 21 digs, but the Green Wave were able to close out the match with the final two points.

“We’ve been able to do that; just keep our heads up and take it one point at a time, know that we’re able to get out of it,” said Daubert.

“No matter what we’re doing, hopefully, on our own service runs, and weather the storm of the other side and just be able to take care of business on our own side of the floor, and clean up our mistakes, but always have that positive vibe that we’re able to come back no matter what.”

Nativity got big hits from Arieanna Sherman, who finished with 19 kills in addition to three blocks and two aces. Bolich added 12 kills and 12 digs with two aces.

The defense and hitting were exceptional throughout on both sides to sustain several long rallies. Emma Lieberman finished with 29 digs, while Bella Bartashus recorded 28 digs and six kills, Sara Spolski finished with 21 digs and five kills, and Ryliegh Sinko came up with 25 digs.

In the fourth game, Nativity rallied, tying the fourth game at 16-16 after trailing 14-8.

The Panthers went ahead, with their biggest lead coming at 21-16, but the Green Wave surged again, making it 21-20 before PV closed it out and forced the decisive fifth game.

“They are very hard-working, and they go after everything,” said Panthers’ coach Emilie Baker. “It’s a never-give-up attitude, and that’s what they showed tonight. We just couldn’t pull through there at the end.”

The third game looked to be a rout, with the Green Wave racing out to a 16-5 lead before the Panthers rallied, winning five straight points, with Riley McArdle capping the rally with an ace.

McArdle finished with 33 digs, 19 kills and four aces.

Panther Valley continued to close the distance, getting within three at 23-20. But Nativity finished it off with kills from Bolich and Sherman to close it out and take a 2-1 lead into the match.

The Green Wave never trailed in the second game, but PV stayed close. A kill by McArdle cut the deficit to 22-17, but the Green Wave won the final three points to tie the match at 1-1.

The Panthers didn’t take a lead in the first game until a 6-5 advantage. Panther Valley never trailed the rest of the way, but only led by as much as five.

After the Green Wave cut the lead to 24-22, a serve that went long finished the game and gave the Panthers the game 25-22 and a 1-0 lead.

Despite the loss, Panther Valley has built plenty of momentum for the district tournament, winning its final eight matches of the regular season before topping Tri-Valley in the quarterfinals on Monday.

“Throughout this season, I’ve seen a lot of growth in my team as a whole, and individually,” said Baker. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to learn from this loss when we go into districts, because next time we do lose, it would be the end of our season. So we have to hold on to that.”

LAST TIME

... Nativity beat Panther Valley in five games, 3-2, on Sept. 20. It was the Panthers only other match that went five games this year.

NEXT

... While PV will prepare for districts, Nativity will face top seed Pine Grove Thursday in the finals at Martz Hall.