New, positive energy filled the Panorama High School gym Tuesday evening as a fresh era of Panther varsity volleyball opened against Interstate 35. The Panthers, who tallied one win inside the West Central Activities Conference last season, matched their league 2017 win total with a sweep of the Roadrunners (25-11, 25-13, 25-19). The victory was the first for new head varsity volleyball coach Jessica Nail. Nail spoke with the Raccoon Valley Radio Network after the win and gave her assessment of the match. “I’m very proud of the girls,” Nail said, “We’ve been working very hard on our passing over the summer, and I think that’s a huge key in the way we played tonight. Our serve receive passes were, for the most part, on target, and we were able to get our middle hitters involved like we wanted. Our game plan was to utilize our middle (hitters), and I think it went well.”

The starting lineup featured all seniors. Brooke Halterman smashed a game-high nine kills. Kennedy Kuta dished out 13 assists, while Oliva Richey recorded seven aces serving and six blocks defensively, Panorama volleyball is off to a 1-0 start for the first time since in over 12 years. The Panthers resume West Central Activities Conference play at Thursday on the road against the Earlham Cardinals.