HANOVER, Ind. – The Panther Volleyball team (7-4 overall) put an exclamation point on their weekend, sweeping the final day of the Hanover Invitational.
 
The Panthers defeated Trine 3-1 (25-21, 25-3, 18-25, 25-12) before securing the electrifying win over Otterbein 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-7).
 
GAME ONE v Trine
Senior Elliot Mays led the attack with a team-high 12 kills and an impressive .440 hitting percentage. Junior Abbey McCoy added 10 kills and 12 digs.
 
Sophomore Madison Schicker dominated the back row, picking up a team-high 29 digs.
 
Sophomore Brooke Gervers added 15 assists while her counterpart, junior Megan Vogel dished out 13.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The opening set saw the two teams look to find their footing as both Trine and Hanover were able to keep the contest close. However, the Panthers used a four-point surge, led by Mays, to push ahead 12-9. With the momentum in their favor, Hanover rattled off another four straight points that ultimately led to the set one win.
 
Set two saw complete domination from the Blue and Red, holding Trine to just three points. The Panthers opened play on a 12-0 run behind the dominant serve of senior Kelsey Waggoner. Hanover never looked back, scoring the final 13 points, with key serves from Schicker, en route to a 25-3 victory.
 
After surrendering set three, the Panthers were right back on track in set four. Leading the charge was the duo or Gervers and Mays. Waggoner was fantastic at the net, scoring a trio of kills that helped HC claim the match.
 
GAME TWO v Otterbein
The Cardinals entered the match perfect on the year when Hanover played spoilers. Despite surrendering the first two sets, the Panthers fed off the home crowd. With their backs against the wall in set three, freshman Brooklyn Borden delivered, giving HC the 9-8 edge. Freshman Molly Welborn charted a key kill late into the set that extended the Hanover difference, 22-20. Robertson and McCoy handled the rest, helping to score the final three points for the 25-23 win.
 
Collier Arena began to rock in set four as HC continued to rally. Mays hit a service ace followed by kills from McCoy and Robertson that put Hanover in front 17-12. Freshman Kinzee Dean joined the party with a series of kills that helped lift the score to 24-24. Schicker deemed clutch at the service line, securing the set winning point.
 
With the stage set, Hanover delivered to the home crowd. Waggoner propelled the fighting Panthers to a 4-0 advantage before a slew of kills nearly pushed the contest out of reach, 13-6. The final dagger came from the hand of Welborn as HC knocked off the Cardinals of Otterbein.
 
Hanover returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 17 when they welcome Wilmington to Collier Arena.