Prior to the volleyball match Monday against Marian Catholic, Panther Valley unveiled its 2023 Schuylkill League Championship banner.

And then the Panthers played with the intensity like they’re on a mission for another banner, blanking the Fillies 25-18, 25-16, 25-16.

Panther Valley held the lead for virtually the entire match. The only time Marian was in front was early in the second period, twice going ahead by one point.

Sometimes the phrase “team effort” sounds like a mere cliche, but in this contest, that’s exactly how the Panthers played. They showed fury at the net, were consistent with the digs and executed acute serving.

Panther Valley head coach Emilie Hannis said she was happy with the win, considering she was a little nervous coming into the game.

That’s because her libero, junior Caroline Breslin, injured her ankle last week against Blue Mountain, “so we didn’t know what to expect in this game,” said Hannis.

Breslin insisted she felt OK to play, “and I think she did an excellent job,” Hannis said. “I think she did an excellent job of keeping the ball up, especially with that bum ankle.”

During the game, Breslin had 13 digs.

There’s no question that the potency of PV’s front line had a big role in the outcome. Each time Marian inched a little closer to the Panthers, Natalie Vermillion and Morgan Orsulak both unleashed their strength and experience, mixing up spikes with taps, and border targets with mid-court lobs.

Vermillion and Orsulak combined for 24 kills (13 by Vermillion and 11 by Orsulak). Vermillion also had 10 digs, while Orsulak had 15 assists and six digs.

There also was the serving. Panther Valley had 10 aces, five of them by senior Emma Dacey.

So keen was the serving, that PV didn’t have a single net shot all night.

Hannis said of the serving, “That’s something we focus on. That’s something we can control each game.”

Speaking of control, another thing the Panthers retained was the tempo.

“I thought we played our tempo, and we played our game going in,” said Hannis. “We did a good job of not leveling out, and continuing to play our game.”

Marian head coach Maria Currie, in her first year leading the program, is working to help the team build a solid foundation after it lost several key players through graduation,

“This is only our fifth game of the season, so they need to find each other,” Currie said. “It’s my first year with them. I’ve seen some really great shining moments, but they need to trust each other more.

“I was happy with the way they played. If I was with them longer, I would expect more. But we’re just growing together.”

The Panthers flexed early, jumping out to an 11-3 lead with Vermillion having a pair of aces and two kills during that span.

The Fillies fought back, getting to within two, 18-16, before PV put together a 6-1 run.

The second game stayed close for a while before Panther Valley had an 8-3 spurt.

In the final game, the closest Marian could get was seven points.

‘OUR SERVES WERE GOLD’ ... That’s a quote from Currie regarding her team’s serving, with only one net serve the entire night. It was also true of Panther Valley, though, which had no net serves and 10 aces.

LEADING THEIR DIVISIONS ... Both teams are at the top of their respective divisions in the Schuylkill League with 3-1 records. Marian’s only loss was to Nativity, while Panther Valley’s lone defeat was at the hands of Blue Mountain in five games.

COMING UP ... Both Panther Valley and Marian have games again this evening. Tonight, Panther Valley travels to Lourdes. On Thursday, the Panthers host Tamaqua. Marian visits Schuylkill Haven tonight, and then is home on Thursday against Minersville.

Marian 18 16 16

Panther Valley 25 25 25

Stat Leaders: Marian - Lombardo 7 kills, 11 blocks; Horvat 7 kills, 11 digs; Grochowski 5 kills, 15 digs; Hayes 21 assists; Panther Valley - Vermillion 13 kills, 10 digs; Orsulak 11 kills, 15 assists, 6 digs; Breslin 13 digs.

Records: Panther Valley (4-1 overall); Marian (3-2 overall)