HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover volleyball team ended the long overdue drought as they opened the 2021 spring season on Saturday with a sweep of Conference foe Defiance. The Panthers move to 2-0 overall, 1-0 HCAC on the season.
 
The opening match saw the Panthers sweep the Yellow Jackets in straight sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-20). Leading the way for Hanover was sophomore Adrianne Vance (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lawrence North) with a team-high 11 kills, hitting 45.5 percent for the contest. Junior Kelsey Ketcham (Mishawaka, Ind. / Marian) dished out a match-high 26 assists with 11 digs.
 
Set one saw the Panthers and Yellow Jackets exchange points for several serves before back-to-back kills by junior Maura Dankoski (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern) and Vance propelled the Blue and Red in front 11-7. They extended their lead moments later as another Vance kill, and a Defiance miscue pushed the difference to 13-8. This is the closest the Yellow Jackets would come for the remainder of the set as junior Emma McPeek (North Vernon, Ind. / Jennings County) connected for the set winning kill.
 
Hanover carried the momentum into the early points of set two as they were able to surge ahead 7-5 following a service ace by Vance. But the Yellow Jackets continued to swarm as they tied the contest at 9-9 with a kill of their own. They would find themselves in front moments later as a Hanover miscue gave them the slight 16-15 advantage. Defiance continued to carry the momentum setting up for set point before a Hanover three-point swing secured the set two 26-24 victory.
 
The final set was dominated by the Panthers as back-to-back kills by sophomore Emma Harmon (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) pushed the difference to 9-5. Despite a Yellow Jacket rally, the Hanover attack deemed to much as kills by McPeek and Harmon saw the Panthers take the 19-16 advantage. Dankoski secured the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener as she landed a kill from Ketcham that propelled the Blue and Red to victory.
 
In game two, the Panthers completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory over the Yellow Jackets, (25-21, 26-24, 25-16).
 
Defiance claimed the early set one lead capitalizing on a pair of Panther miscues. However, Hanover battled tough as a service ace by sophomore Josie McClara (Jamestown, Ind. / Tri-West) would tie the set, 4-4. After a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers found themselves on top once more behind a three-point rally paced by McClara. Hanover went on to win the set 25-21 following a Yellow Jacket miscue.
 
Defiance looked to redeem themselves in set two as an early 4-1 lead evaporated behind the attack of Dankoski who tied the set at 5-5. Hanover claimed its largest lead of the set moments later as a Yellow Jacket fumble pushed the difference to 14-11. But the Yellow Jackets were able to poise themselves and knot the set at 18-18 but the rally wasn't enough as Hanover was able to combat the attack and claim the set two win, 26-24.
 
The final set of the afternoon saw Hanover dominate early and often as a McClara service ace put Hanover on top 5-1. The Blue and Red never looked back as the offense fired on all cylinders getting kills from sophomore Abigail Edds (Louisville, Ky. / Sayers Classic Academy) and freshman Aubrey Walton (Linton, Ind. / Linton-Stockton) that moved the difference to 9-4. The final dagger of the afternoon would come from freshman Ella Reed (Lexington, Ky. / Lafayette Sr.) who secured the sweep of Defiance.
 
Hanover returns to action on Wednesday, January 27, when they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on the Lions of Mt. St. Joseph. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 pm.