MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Panthers (2-0 overall) spiked the 2024 season opener by defeating Randolph-Macon 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22) and Invitational host Maryville 3-1 (25-16, 16-25, 26-24, 25-11).
 
GAME ONE – Randolph-Macon
The FRONT LINE
The Hanover attack was paced by junior Elliot Mays (Jeffersonville, Ind.) and sophomore Abbey McCoy (Indianapolis, Ind.) with double-digit kills. Mays charted a team-high 11 kills while McCoy added 10. McCoy also recorded an impressive .375 attacking percentage on 24 total attempts.
 
Sophomore Megan Vogel (North Vernon, Ind.) served up a team-high 21 assists while teammate, senior Maggie Schweitzer (Shelbyville, Ind.) dished out 18 assists.
 
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
The defensive effort saw freshman Madison Schicker (Fishers, Ind.) tally a game-high 24 digs, and four Panthers finished in double digits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set saw Hanover overcome a 5-1 deficit early to capture the 25-19 set one victory. Hanover rattled off the final four points behind the service of senior Molly Schwarzkopf (Greenfield, Ind.).
 
The second set saw the Blue and Red use a six-point rally en route to a 12-7 advantage. However, Randolph-Macon flipped the score when the Panther attack prevailed. They secured a 25-23 win off a kill by senior Jessie Stenger (St. Leon, Ind.).
 
After surrendering the third set, they found themselves locked in a fourth set battle. The momentum finally swung in favor of the Panthers after Schicker led a three-point surge, 23-19. The rest was history as Hanover secured the season-opening win.

GAME TWO – Maryville
ON THE ATTACK
Mays added her second double-digit kill performance landing 10, while freshman Nicole Stratford (Lanesville, Ind.) added a team-high 11 kills. Vogel dished out 22 helpers with two service aces and 10 digs.
 
THE BACKFIELD
Three different Panthers charted double-digit digs led by Schicker with 19. Schweitzer added a team-best four service aces.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The turning point for the Panthers in set one came after a pair of Maryville miscues that allowed HC to surrender just one point over the next nine. Hanover was able to capitalize with a five-point rally to end the set winning 25-16.
 
Maryville claimed set two before a nail biting set three. Both teams used a series of runs when the Scots captured a 20-16 difference. The Hanover attack responded knotting the score 20-20 before a McCoy kill secured the 26-24 win.
 
The final set saw the Blue and Red push the game out of reach after back-to-back rallies excelled them in front 11-1. The Panthers never looked back surging a 2-0 record to start the 2024 campaign.