HANOVER, Ind. – The Panthers posted a dominate performance in the opening match of the 2019 Hanover Invitational on Saturday evening. The Blue and Red defeated Capital in straight sets (25-22, 25-10, 25-15).

As a team, the Panthers registered a .237 hitting percentage with 35 kills. Leading the charge was freshman Adrianne Vance (Indianapolis, Ind.) with a game-high 11 kills and a .417 hitting percentage.

After a very back and forth set one, Hanover used a six-point rally capped off by a sophomore Emma Rolf (Lebanon, Ind.) kill to put HC on top 23-20. They went on to seal the set following a Crusader miscue.

The Panthers established dominance early in set two as Rolf went to work behind the service line tallying five straight points en route to the 12-4 advantage. Vance did work at the net as she tallied back-to-back kills extending the Hanover lead to 19-8. The Panthers scored the sets final five points to capture the set two victory.

Set three saw much of the same from the Panthers as they surged ahead early following back-to-back kills by senior Carlie Burson (Corydon, Ind.) and sophomore Emma McPeek (North Vernon, Ind.). The Crusaders struggles continued as a pair of miscues pushed the HC lead to 19-7. Senior Ally Williams (Fountaintown, Ind.) would capitalize as she provided a clutch serve that capped off a three-point Panther rally, 23-9. HC sealed the contest on a Rolf kill.

Hanover returns to the court on Saturday, September 14 as they host Trine in day two of the Hanover Invitational. First serve is set for 10 a.m.